Date of publication:
01/07/2026
Somalia
Do domestic laws and policies provide for the cessation of refugee status?
Assessment by population
Analysis
The Federal Government of Somalia and Somaliland regulate cessation of refugee status in line with international legal standards. The Somalia Refugees and Asylum Seekers Law and The Puntland Refugee Protection Law provides for cessation when a refugee voluntarily re-avails themselves of their country’s protection, acquires a new nationality, or when the circumstances that led to their refugee status no longer exist. Similarly, Somaliland’s Refugees and Asylum Seekers Law includes cessation clauses that ensure individuals no longer in need of protection are reintegrated into their home country or another safe state. These provisions adhere to the UNHCR guidelines on cessation, ensuring that refugees are not prematurely stripped of their status.
Related provisions of domestic law or policy
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 15 - Cessation of refugee status
A person shall cease to be a Refugee for the purposes of this Law if that person: (a) Voluntarily re-avails himself of the protection of the country of his nationality; (b) Having lost his nationality voluntarily reacquires it; (c) Acquires the nationality of another country and enjoys the protection of the country of his new nationality; (d) Continues to refuse to avail himself of the protection of the country of his nationality when the circumstances in connection with which he has been recognized as a Refugee have ceased to exist. (g) He has committed serious non-political crime outside of Puntland; or (h) He has seriously infringed the purpose and principles of the United Nations, League of Arab States or the African Union.
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 16.1 - Cessation of Refugee Status in Certain Situations
A person shall no longer be considered a refugee under this law if: o They were ineligible for refugee recognition under Article 14. o Their refugee status has been revoked under Article 15. o They voluntarily avail themselves of the protection of their country of nationality. o After losing their nationality, they voluntarily regain it. o They acquire the nationality of another country and obtain protection from that country. o They voluntarily return to their country of origin or a third country where they resided and no longer have a fear of persecution. o They refuse to avail themselves of the protection of their country of nationality when conditions that led to their recognition as a refugee no longer exist. o They refuse to return to their country of habitual residence when it is safe to do so.