Date of publication:
01/07/2026
Somalia
Do domestic laws and policies provide for the cancellation of refugee status?
Assessment by population
Analysis
The Federal Government of Somalia and Somaliland provide for the revocation of refugee status in cases where individuals were granted protection based on fraudulent claims, misrepresentation, or if they subsequently engage in acts that would have led to their exclusion from refugee status. The Somalia Refugees and Asylum Seekers Law and The Puntland Refugee Protection Law allows for refugee status to be revoked if it is discovered that the individual provided false information or has committed serious crimes. Similarly, Somaliland’s Refugees and Asylum Seekers Law follows international principles in revoking refugee status when an individual poses a threat to national security or public order. These legal provisions align with global refugee protection standards, ensuring that revocation is not arbitrary but based on clearly defined criteria.
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 16.1 - Withdrawal of refugee status
If at any time the Minister considers that there are serious grounds for believing that a person who has been recognized as a Refugee should not have been recognized or has ceased to be a refugee, it may cancel the refugee status given after notifying the refugee concerned in writing and giving him the opportunity to explain about the issue
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 42 - Revocation of Refugee Status
A refugee person can have their refugee status revoked if there are reasonable grounds to believe that such a person should not have been so recognized as having refugee status. Refugee status can be revoked if: (a) He has voluntarily re-availed himself of the protection of the country of his nationality; (b) It is known that the person has fraudulently misrepresented the facts he provided when he was granted refugee status; (c) He has acquired the nationality of another country.
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 15.1 - Revocation of Refugee Status
If the Committee is convinced that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a person recognized as a refugee was wrongly granted such status or that their refugee status has ceased under this law, the Committee may revoke their refugee status at any time.