Family life

The Federal Government of Somalia and Somaliland recognize the right to family life and reunification in their domestic policies, reflecting international standards. Both the Somalia Refugee Law and the Somaliland Refugee and Asylum Seekers Law acknowledge the principle of family unity. However, neither jurisdiction has established a comprehensive national framework that explicitly governs family reunification procedures for forcibly displaced persons (FDPs), including refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless individuals.

Family reunification is legally supported for spouses, children, and dependent relatives. Regional laws in Puntland and Somaliland broadly define "family" to include siblings, grandparents, and other dependents. While accompanying and later-joining family members of recognized refugees are eligible for derivative status, the process is often slow and inconsistently applied. Weak institutional capacity, lack of trained personnel, and limited access to documentation continue to hinder implementation.

Although procedures for applying for reunification are outlined in Puntland’s Refugee Protection Law and the Somaliland Refugee Law, they require verification of family relationships—often through documentation such as birth or marriage certificates. FDPs frequently lack these records due to displacement or statelessness. Inflexible evidentiary requirements and a lack of alternative verification methods further obstruct access to reunification.

In theory, family members can obtain refugee travel documents or visas to facilitate reunification. However, Somalia and Somaliland lack clear procedures for issuing such documents to dependents. As a result, many families remain separated for extended periods. In the absence of strong state mechanisms, organizations such as UNHCR and NGOs frequently provide support, but their assistance is limited and not a substitute for comprehensive government-led systems.

Somalia and Somaliland have initiated efforts to support separated and unaccompanied children through partnerships with UNICEF and the ICRC. Tools such as Somalia’s Child Protection Information Management System and Somaliland’s Alternative Care Policy aim to standardize family tracing and reunification. However, these efforts remain limited in scale and heavily reliant on international support.

Despite constitutional and statutory commitments to non-discrimination, practical barriers to reunification persist. These include opaque decision-making processes, the absence of requirements to provide written reasons for denial, and limited access to appeals. While legal avenues for appeal exist, they are rarely functional due to legal complexity, limited awareness, and institutional constraints.

Although national laws require consideration of the best interests of the child in expulsion or deportation cases, safeguards to prevent family separation remain weak. Policies lack detailed provisions to preserve family unity during such procedures, increasing the risk of arbitrary separation.

While Somalia and Somaliland have made progress in recognizing the right to family life for FDPs, significant legal, procedural, and institutional gaps remain. Stronger legal codification, clear processes, and increased capacity are essential to uphold family unity and ensure timely, fair, and inclusive reunification outcomes.