Date of publication:
01/07/2026
Somalia
Do domestic laws and policies provide for the exclusion from refugee status of persons who are not in need of international protection?
Assessment by population
Analysis
The Federal Government of Somalia and Somaliland’s legal frameworks provide for exclusion clauses that align with international refugee law, ensuring that individuals who have committed war crimes, crimes against humanity, serious non-political crimes, or acts contrary to the principles of the United Nations are not granted refugee status. The Somalia Refugees and Asylum Seekers Law and The Puntland Refugee Protection Law explicitly outlines grounds for exclusion, including individuals involved in terrorism or serious criminal activities. Similarly, Somaliland’s Refugees and Asylum Seekers Law adopts exclusion provisions consistent with the 1951 Refugee Convention, ensuring that protection is not granted to those who pose a serious threat to national or international security.
Related provisions of domestic law or policy
Somaliland Refugee Protection Law
- Year: 2023
- Type: Domestic law
- Rights Category: Asylum, Education, Freedom of movement, Health, Housing, land & property, Liberty & security of person, Nationality & facilitated naturalization, Social protection, Work & Workplace rights, Family life, Documentation
Legal provision
Article 24 - Cessation of Refugee Status
A person shall cease to be considered a refugee if: (a) He has voluntarily re-availed himself or herself of the protection of the country of origin or nationality; (b) He has voluntarily surrendered his or her refugee status; (c) Having lost his or her nationality, he has voluntarily re-acquired it; (d) He has acquired the nationality of the Republic of Somaliland in accordance with the Citizenship Act of the Republic of Somaliland; (e) The circumstances in connection with which he has been recognized as a refugee have ceased to exist.
Somalia Refugees and Asylum Seekers Law
- Year: 2023
- Type: Domestic law
- Rights Category: Asylum, Education, Freedom of movement, Health, Housing, land & property, Liberty & security of person, Social protection, Work & Workplace rights, Family life, Documentation
Legal provision
Article 14 - Denial of Refugee Status
A person shall not be granted refugee status under this law if they: • Have committed a crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against humanity as defined in international conventions Somalia is party to. • Have committed a serious non-political crime outside Somalia before seeking asylum. • Have committed a serious non-political crime in Somalia after being admitted as a refugee. • Have engaged in activities contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations or the African Union. • Have multiple nationalities and have not sought protection from any of their countries of nationality without a valid reason based on a well-founded fear.
Puntland Refugee Protection Law
- Year: 2016
- Type: Domestic law
- Rights Category: Asylum, Education, Freedom of movement, Health, Housing, land & property, Liberty & security of person, Nationality & facilitated naturalization, Social protection, Work & Workplace rights, Family life, Documentation
Legal provision
Article 10.1 - Disqualification from grant of refugee status
1. A person shall not be regarded as a Refugee for the purpose of this Law if there are serious reasons for considering that: – a) he has committed a crime against peace, a war crime or a crime against humanity as defined in the international instruments which have been drawn up to make provision in respect of such crimes which Somalia Republic has ratified and which are binding upon Puntland; or b) he has committed a serious non-political crime outside Puntland prior to his admission to Puntland as a Refugee; or c) he has been guilty of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations, the League of Arab states, or the African Union; or 18 d) having more than one nationality, has not availed himself to the protection of one of the countries of which he is a national and has no valid reason for not doing so