After enduring decades of conflict and state instability, the outlook for Somalia is today on a more positive note. The prospect of a brighter future is on the horizon, as guided by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s vision to "forge peace within and with its neighbours”.

Positioned in the Horn of Africa, Somalia holds regional and strategic importance due to its location along the Bab el Mandeb strait, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. With Africa's longest coastline, Somalia plays a pivotal role in maritime dynamics, while its location also provides access to key trade routes.

EUDEL Somalia

The country has an estimated population of 17.1 million. Somalia is Africa's most culturally homogeneous country, with around 85% of residents being ethnic Somalis, while the majority adhere to Sunni Islam.  However, around 3.9 million individuals are internally displaced, primarily due to ongoing conflict and the impacts of climate change.

Somalia, on a positive path

Somalia is on a promising trajectory toward stability and development, demonstrating significant progress on the state-building agenda, security transition and economic growth. The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) met important milestones in past years for Somalia to become a more integrated part of the international community, including among other the admission into the East African Community (EAC), reaching the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) completion point, the lifting of the three-decade long sanctions regime on arms embargo, the holding of the Somalia Security Conference in New York in December 2023 and the decision on Somalia joining the UN Security Council from 2025. 

The constitutional review process underscores the nation’s commitment to inclusive governance and active consultations involving federal member states, civil society, and key stakeholders. Important advancements have been made in the state-building process of the country, including steps toward a one-person-one-vote electoral system, while the National Consultative Council (NCC) continues to play a prominent role for an inclusive political system. 

A secure and stable Somalia is critical for peace and stability in the Horn of Africa, and Somalia has been taking increasing ownership of its security responsibilities to this end. The Somali Security Forces continue their fight against al-Shabaab, while the lifting of the arms embargo has also enhanced government security efforts.Together with its international partners, Somalia is enhancing its own capacity in the security domain, laying a strong foundation for sustained peace, accountable governance, and long-term prosperity. In 2025, the year will also be marked by the transition from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) to the new African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

Somalia has experienced notable economic growth in recent years, as evidenced by recent IMF assessments and a general increase in domestic revenue mobilisation. The country’s achievement of reaching the HIPC completion point marks a significant milestone in its debt relief and future economic trajectory. Somalia is committed to fostering a conducive business environment to attract and facilitate investment in key sectors such as infrastructure, energy, and agriculture, which will drive job creation and improve food security. With agriculture, livestock, and fisheries forming the backbone of its economy—contributing 60-70% of GDP, 80% of employment, and 90% of exports—Somalia's main trading partners are its neighbouring countries, the Gulf States, and Yemen.

The current framework of collaboration between the EU and the FGS is shaped by the Joint Operational Roadmap as per the European Council Conclusions of June 2023. This roadmap sets the path for a renewed focused engagement for the next two years, centred around three joint priority areas: 

1. Inclusive Politics and Democratisation;

2. Security and Stabilisation, and;

3. Socio-economic Growth. 

The sections below detail our activities according to each pillar.  On the EU side, these activities capture activities implemented by different EU institutions, notably the three Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions in Somalia (EUCAP, EUTM, EUNAVOR – see below); DG INTPA , DG ECHO , the EU’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments. 

In the realm of Inclusive Politics and Democratisation, the EU and Somalia engage in a mutual commitment to addressing critical state-building challenges. This partnership focuses on facilitating key agreements on federalisation, security architecture, the justice model, and power and resource sharing. The EU aims to contribute to the establishment of a more participatory democratic system by assisting Somalia in finalising the Constitution, establishing a Constitutional Court, and addressing the root causes of instability.

The EU provides support to inclusive politics, including reconciliation and dialogue initiatives that can further the peacebuilding agenda in Somalia and work towards finding political settlements and strengthening the democratisation processes at local, state and federal level. This includes support to the federal parliament as well as to the constitutional review process.

Regarding Security and Stabilisation, the EU collaborates with Somalia to support the country in gradually taking over  responsibility for the country’s security. The ongoing fight against al-Shabaab is a key priority for the regional stability of the Horn of Africa, while stabilisation and reconciliation in the newly liberated areas must follow. The FGS has made significant strides in enhancing its security sector and in the fight against al-Shabaab. As part of its efforts to take greater ownership of its security framework, Somalia has developed the Somalia Security Development Plan (SSDP), which was formulated in anticipation of the Somalia Security Conference held in New York in December 2023. The lifting of the UN arms embargo in 2023 further supports these initiatives. 

The EU has an important role in this sector with the presence of three Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions in Somalia: 

• The EU Training Mission (EUTM) in Somalia  – a military training mission aimed at advising, mentoring and training the Somali National Army.

• The European Union Capacity Building Mission (EUCAP) in Somalia - a civilian capacity building mission which contributes to the establishment of sustainable maritime security systems. The mission provides advice, mentoring and training to the Somali Coast Guard and Police.

• Operation EUNAVFOR ATALANTA -originally established to combat piracy, this naval operation now addresses broader maritime security issues, including illegal trafficking of weapons and drugs.

As part of the security transition, the EU has committed a total of EUR 110 million in bilateral support to the Somali National Army (SNA) under the European Peace Facility (EPF) with the aim of enhancing its capacity to implement the SSDP. The support has mainly been in the form of non-lethal equipment such as vehicles, radios, life-saving materials and counter-IED tools. This support also extends to enhancing the capabilities of the Land Force Command Operations Room and the establishment of the European Training Mission (EUTM) SNA training centre at the General Dhagadaban Training Centre (GDTC).  

The EU has been the largest contributor to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and its successor the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), with financial support of over EUR 2.6 billion since 2007.

The EU has been actively engaged in Somalia's stabilisation and infrastructure projects, with the goal of fostering peace, security, and sustainable development. These initiatives address the longstanding challenges Somalia has faced, including prolonged conflict, political instability, and recurrent natural disasters. Ongoing efforts are endeavouring to respond to violent extremism in Somalia, including research and analysis, the mainstreaming of government policies, and running activities to enhance community-led projects that prevent and counter violent extremism. Beyond security, EU investment in public services and infrastructure is enhancing stability and improving quality of life across the region.

In the domain of Socio-economic Growth and Economic Development, the EU and Somalia work together to end Somalia's financial isolation, boost domestic resource mobilization, and improve service delivery to citizens. The EU is committed to supporting the Somali government in creating an enabling environment for investment in key sectors like infrastructure, energy, and agriculture. To this end, the EU Global Gateway serves as the blueprint for our efforts, representing a new European strategy aimed at enhancing smart, clean, and secure connectivity in the digital, energy, and transport sectors, while also strengthening health, education, and research systems globally.

The EU is keen to deepen business linkages between Somalia and the EU by promoting trade and investment. As captured in this brochure (link), many European businesses are already engaged in Somalia. On the back of the EU-Somalia Trade Business and Investment Platform, the EU is keen to support public-private dialogue and networking opportunities for Somali and European private sector actors, as well as other initiatives to promote a conducive business environment for growth and economic development in Somalia. 

In the social sectors, the EU invests significantly in Education and Technical and Vocational Training (TVET) in Somalia. In addition, the EU contributes to resilience-building, and provides  support to vulnerable migrants and displacement-affected communities, including IDPs (internally displaced persons) in line with Somalia’s commitments to durable solutions for displaced communities. 

Through the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), the EU has provided humanitarian aid assistance to most vulnerable populations in Somalia since 1994.  The support to the Humanitarian Aid Operation in Somalia allows for much needed emergency assistance as the country continues to struggle with multiple, recurring conflict and climate related shocks. 

In 2023, the EU allocated EUR 72.5 million for humanitarian projects in Somalia, helping 8.25 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, bringing the EU humanitarian funding to EUR 215 million since the beginning of 2021.  The humanitarian funding supports aid organizations in delivering food assistance, basic health and nutrition services, clean water, protection, shelter, and education. 

For more information visit the EU’s humanitarian operations webpage for Somalia. See also, this fact sheet on aid delivery to the country. 

https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/where/africa/somalia_en