Date of publication:

04/09/2025

Somalia

Do domestic laws and policies require the State to provide administrative assistance in the context of family reunification when assistance by the authorities of the country of origin is not possible?

ANALYSIS

Assessment by population

Refugees
Asylum-seekers
Analysis

The Federal Government of Somalia and the Somaliland administration formally recognize the importance of family reunification, particularly in circumstances where assistance from a country of origin is not feasible. However, in practice, these commitments are not operationalized, and no formal systems or procedures are currently in place to support family reunification for forcibly displaced persons (FDPs), including internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugee-returnees. Despite references to family unity in national policy documents, such as the National Policy on Refugee-Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons (NPRRI) and the National Child Protection Policy, implementation mechanisms remain largely absent.

In Somaliland, although the National Displacement and Refugee Agency (NDRA) is tasked with supporting displaced populations, it does not currently administer or facilitate structured family reunification processes. Likewise, while the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) may provide general counseling on protection matters, there are no systematic efforts in place to trace, document, or reunite separated families within Somalia or across borders. This includes the lack of a coordinated approach to address cases involving unaccompanied or separated children, despite existing policy language emphasizing the child’s best interests. As a result, family reunification remains a largely aspirational goal rather than a functioning component of Somalia and Somaliland’s displacement response.

    LAW & POLICY

    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 18.2 - Refugees Affairs Department

    f) Consider and review the applications for family re-unification with Refugees in Puntland

    Puntland IDP Guidelines
    • Year: 2011
    • Type: Domestic policy
    • Rights Category: Education, Freedom of movement, Health, Housing, land & property, Liberty & security of person, Social protection, Work & Workplace rights, Family life, Documentation

    Legal provision

    Provision 10 - Family life

    The Puntland Government recognizes and reaffirms the right to respect the family life of IDPs in accordance with the Constitution, international human rights and humanitarian law standards and shall protect family unity, including promoting and supporting family tracing and reunification, in particular in relation to separated children.

    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 26.1 - Family Reunification

    A recognized refugee may apply to the Authority for permission for a member of his or her family to enter and reside in the Republic of Somaliland for purposes of reunion.