Somalia

The Somalian government is developing the National Diaspora Policy with the support of IOM. The policy will support sustainable development by strengthening social and economic linkages between Somalia and its diaspora, including migrant workers abroad. The national Department of Diaspora Affairs, under the Foreign Affairs Ministry, will undertake consultations with government and non-government stakeholders, including IOM to ensure that a participatory, inclusive and coherent policy is developed.

The National Commission for Refugees and IDPs has called for a nationwide moratorium on the eviction of IDPs to prevent a further spread of the COVID-19 virus. The moratorium appeal is in place until further notice.

In an effort to provide tenure security and address the housing needs of IDPs and refugee-returnees, the Interim Protocol establishes the eligibility criteria for land distribution, availability of land for distribution, priority in land allocation, determination of beneficiaries, and the obligations of beneficiaries and land ownership. The provisions in the Protocol are according to the Somali Provisional Constitution that guarantees to every person residing lawfully on the territory of the said Republic freedom of movement, the freedom to choose his/her residence and to leave the country.

The Banadir Regional Administration & Municipality of Mogadishu established an IDP policy in response to Somalia’s National Development Plan (2017-2019) objective of enhancing the country’s resilience capacity, specifically to sustainably reduce the number of IDPs by bringing them into mainstream life and addressing underlying causes of their displacement. The policy articulates the Administration’s plan for IDPs in Mogadishu, building on the laws of Somalia and the National IDP Policy, with a focus on the implementation of durable solutions while ensuring that IDP rights are taken into consideration.

To provide specific protection against the rising cases of forced evictions of IDPs, especially in major urban cities, the Somali Government has established National Eviction Guidelines that lay out conditions, safeguards, process for legal evictions, in line with international standards. The Guidelines prevent arbitrary and forced eviction of occupiers of public and private properties, from homes, encampments and other lands, thus protecting the rights of IDPs and refugee-returnees to residence.

The National Policy, for the first time, codifies the Somali government’s responsibility – both at the federal and state level – for facilitating sustainable solutions for IDPs. The legislation protects the rights of IDPs and refugee-returnees and creates a framework to prevent further forced displacement, provide protection and assistance during displacement, and find a durable solution to their displacement.

In Somalia’s National Social Protection Policy, which sets out a framework for a national social protection system in Somalia from 2019 to 2040, the Government recognizes IDPs in Somalia as one of the most vulnerable sectors in society and makes provisions to create a safety net to address their needs.