At a Glance
Alliances & Memberships
- UN
- AU
- Arab League
- OIC
- EAC (joined 2024)
Foreign Policy Overview
Diplomatic crisis with Ethiopia over Somaliland MOU (2024); deepening Egypt and Turkey ties; ATMIS to AUSSOM transition; al-Shabaab fight.
Key Positions on Major Issues
Territorial integrity (vs. Somaliland); counter-Shabaab; sea boundaries; pro-Palestine.
UN Voting Record Notes
AU/Arab/OIC consensus.
Economy & Trade
Somalia's economy is largely informal and heavily dependent on livestock, remittances (which account for roughly 25-30% of GDP), and telecommunications. Agriculture contributes approximately 60% of GDP, with bananas and livestock being primary exports, while the country imports foodstuffs, manufactured goods, and fuel. The Somali Shilling (SOS) remains the official currency, though the US Dollar is used extensively in domestic transactions. Primary trade partners include the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and China. In 2024, Somalia achieved a historic milestone by reaching the HIPC Initiative Completion Point, resulting in the cancellation of $4.5 billion in external debt.
Military & Security
The Somali National Army (SNA) is currently in a state of rebuilding, supported by the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), which is scheduled for drawdown in favor of the new AUSSOM mission in 2025. Military spending has increased as the federal government leads major offensives against Al-Shabaab, primarily in central and southern Somalia. Somalia maintains a non-nuclear status and successfully lobbied for the full lifting of the UN arms embargo in December 2023. Strategic doctrine focuses on counter-insurgency (COIN) and securing the maritime exclusive economic zone (EEZ) from illegal fishing and piracy. The country recently signed a significant defense pact with Turkey (2024) to overhaul maritime security.
Recent History
Following the collapse of the central government in 1991, Somalia entered a long period of civil war and fragmentation. In 2012, the establishment of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) marked a return to formal statehood, followed by the first peaceful transition of power in decades. The last 10 years have focused on the 'War on Terror' against Al-Shabaab and the implementation of a federal system involving several Federal Member States. In 2022, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was re-elected, launching a 'total war' policy against insurgents. Recent policy has been dominated by the dispute with Ethiopia over the January 2024 MoU with the breakaway region of Somaliland, which Somalia maintains is a violation of its sovereignty. Somalia was also elected to a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2025-2026 term.
International Memberships
- African Union (AU)since 1963
Active participant in regional security and integration.
- Arab Leaguesince 1974
Strategic cultural and economic ties to the Arab world.
- East African Community (EAC)since 2024
Formal admission in March 2024, signaling a pivot toward East African economic integration.
- Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)since 1986
Founding member; central to regional peace and security frameworks in the Horn.
MUN Negotiation Profile
G77 + African Group (Pro-Sovereignty)
Pragmatic but firm on territorial integrity; frequently utilizes the 'fragile state' status to advocate for debt relief and specialized aid.
- Any recognition or formalization of Somaliland's independence.
- External interference in internal administrative boundaries or federal arrangements.
- Illegal maritime encroachment or 'MoUs' that bypass the Federal Government (e.g., Ethiopia-Somaliland port deal).
- "The necessity of international support for the post-ATMIS security transition to prevent a vacuum for Al-Shabaab."
- "Climate justice and adaptation funding, given Somalia's extreme vulnerability to cyclical droughts and floods."
- "Upholding the principles of the UN Charter regarding the territorial integrity of member states."