Somalia

Latest Report

Not Available

Immigration detainees

2019

Not Available

Detained children

2017

2,003

New asylum applications

2019

17,882

Refugees

2019

52,131

International migrants

2019

Latest Report

Overview

Somalia is the third largest source country of refugees worldwide, with the number of Somali refugees reaching one million in 2012. Although immigration detention is reported to be relatively common in the autonomous territories of Puntland and Somaliland, it does not appear to be a significant issue in Somalia proper.

Types of facilities used for migration-related detention
Administrative Ad Hoc Criminal Unknown

Related Reading

December 2019
Somalia Immigration Detention Data Profile (2019)
Read more
Last updated: August 2016

Somalia Immigration Detention Profile

Somalia is the third largest source country of refugees worldwide. The number of Somali refugees reached one million in 2012. As Somalia is not a destination or transit country for migrants from neighbouring countries, immigration-related detention does not appear to be a significant issue and there is very little information available about this issue.[1]

In 2013, the U.S. State Department described conditions in Somalia’s prisons and detention centres as harsh and life-threatening. Problems include poor sanitation, lack of medical care, inadequate food, and widespread tuberculosis, cholera, and pneumonia.[2]

 

[1] Regional Mixed Migration Secretariat, Behind Bars: The Detention of Migrants in and from the East and Horn of Africa, 2015, http://www.regionalmms.org/.

[2] U.S. Department of State, Somalia 2014 Human Rights Report, 2014, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/236616.pdf.

IMMIGRATION AND DETENTION-RELATED STATISTICS

Total number of immigration detainees by year
Not Available
2019
Total number of detained minors
Not Available
2017
Criminal prison population
3,450
2012
Population
15,900,000
2020
10,787,000
2015
International migrants
52,131
2019
24,600
2013
International migrants as a percentage of the population
0.2
2013
Refugees
17,882
2019
16,741
2018
14,567
2017
11,559
2016
8,081
2015
2,729
2014
Ratio of refugees per 1000 inhabitants
0.23
2013
Total number of new asylum applications
2,003
2019
3,153
2016
2,886
2013
Refugee recognition rate
39.9
2013
Stateless persons
0
2016
0
2014

SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS

DOMESTIC LAWS AND POLICIES

Legal tradition
Muslim law
2017
Civil law
2017
Customary law
2017
Common law
2017

INTERNATIONAL LAW

International treaties
Ratification Year
CRPD, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
2019
CRC, Convention on the Rights of the Child
2015
CAT, Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
1990
ICESCR, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
1990
ICCPR, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
1990
CRSR, Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
1978
PCRSR, Protocol to the Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
1978
ICERD, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
1975
VCCR, Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
1968
International treaty reservations
Reservation Year
Observation Date
CRC Article 14 2015
2015
2015
Individual complaints procedure
Acceptance Year
ICCPR, First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966 1990
1990
Ratio of complaints procedures accepted
Observation Date
1/7
2017
Regional legal instruments
Year of Ratification (Treaty) / Transposed (Directive) / Adoption (Regulation)
ACHPR, African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights 1985
1985
Relevant recommendations of the UN Universal Periodic Review
Observation Date
No 2011
2017
No 2016
2017

INSTITUTIONAL INDICATORS