Immigration to Somalia

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Immigration in Somalia is regulated by the Somali Immigration Department of the Federal Government of Somalia.

Contents

Regulation

Due to the long absence of governmental regulation, it is uncertain how many foreigners travel to Somalia per year. [1] However, visas and residence permits are now mandatory for all foreign nationals. As of April 2014, the re-established Somali Immigration Department requires all undocumented foreigners to register at its offices in the capital Mogadishu. [2]

As part of IOM Somalia's Capacity Building for Migration Management (CBMM) projects, a Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS) was installed in 2014. The new immigration and border management infrastructure strengthens security by screening travelers at 11 main ports of entry in the country. It in the process registers their biometric data and passport details, and generates statistics for policymakers. [3]

In April 2015, the Federal Cabinet also passed a new policy prioritizing the local workforce and restricting the reliance on foreign labour. [4]

Demographics

Somali expatriates returning from Yemen in Bosaso (2015). Somyem2.jpg
Somali expatriates returning from Yemen in Bosaso (2015).

As of 2012, most emigrants to Somalia consist of Somali expatriates, who have returned to Mogadishu and other urban areas for investment opportunities and to take part in the ongoing post-conflict reconstruction process. [5] Through both private efforts and public initiatives like the Somali Diaspora Corps, they have participated in the renovation of schools, hospitals, banks and other infrastructure, and have played a leading role in the capital's recovery. [5] [6] They have also helped to propel the local real estate market. [7]

In 2015, after the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen, many returning Somali expatriates as well as various foreign nationals began emigrating from Yemen to northern Somalia. [8] The UN expects the number of foreign nationals to eventually reach 100,000 over the following months. [9]

As of September 2014, the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation is scheduled to launch the first population census for Somalia in over two decades. The UNFPA assisted the Ministry in the project, which is slated to be finalized ahead of the planned plebiscite and local and national elections in 2016. [10]

Tourism

Tourism in Somalia is overseen by the Federal Government of Somalia's Ministry of Tourism. The autonomous Puntland and Somaliland regions maintain their own tourist offices. [11] The industry was traditionally noted for its numerous historical sites, beaches, waterfalls, mountain ranges and national parks. [12] After the start of the civil war in the early 1990s, the Tourism Ministry shut down operations. It was later re-established in the 2000s, and once again oversees the national tourist industry. The Mogadishu-based Somali Tourism Association (SOMTA) also provides on-the-ground consulting services. [13]

Citizenship

In December 2013, the Federal Government officially launched Somalia's new e-passport. Part of a broader initiative to strengthen security, the passport will be issued by the Ministry of Interior's Department of Immigration. Next, citizens are eligible for the e-passport upon production of government-issued national identity documents and birth certificates. [14]

According to Article 54 of the national constitution, the allocation of powers and resources between the Federal Government and the Federal Republic of Somalia's constituent Federal Member States shall be negotiated and agreed upon by the Federal Government and the Federal Member States, except in matters pertaining to citizenship and immigration, foreign affairs, national defense, and monetary policy. [15]

Sources of immigration

Most of the migrants to Somalia are from Ethiopia, Yemen and African Union forces within the framework of the African Union Peacekeeping Mission

Total immigrant population by country of origin, 2019
Immigrant
RankCountry of OriginPopulationPortion of immigrants in SomaliaPortion of Somalian populationNotes
0Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia 15,387,869N/A
N/AFlag of India.svg  India N/AN/AN/A
19Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China ≥ 1
N/AFlag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines N/AN/AN/A
18Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom ≥ 2
9Flag of the United States.svg  United States ≈ 700
7Flag of Italy.svg  Italy ≤ 1,000
N/AFlag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan N/AN/AN/A
19Flag of Iran.svg  Iran ≥ 1
N/AFlag of France.svg  France N/AN/AN/A
N/AFlag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon N/AN/AN/A
N/AFlag of Russia.svg  Russia N/AN/AN/A
N/AFlag of Morocco.svg  Morocco N/AN/AN/A
19Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq ≥ 1
N/AFlag of Algeria.svg  Algeria N/AN/AN/A
15Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt ≥ 94
N/AFlag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan N/AN/AN/A
N/AFlag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh N/AN/AN/A
10Flag of Syria.svg  Syria 262 to 1312 Refugees of the Syrian civil war
N/AFlag of the Taliban.svg  Afghanistan N/AN/AN/A
N/AFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa N/AN/AN/A
12Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria ≥ 200
1Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia 19,348title=Somalia Somalia - International immigration]
5Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya ≥ 3,594
11Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey ≥ 202
N/AFlag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo, Democratic Republic of the N/AN/AN/A
16Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana ≥ 56
19Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates ≥ 1
12Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania ≥ 200
N/AFlag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia N/AN/AN/A
19Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon ≥ 1
N/AFlag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia N/AN/AN/A
17Flag of Eritrea.svg  Eritrea 40 [16]
N/AFlag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia N/AN/AN/A
N/AFlag of Jordan.svg  Jordan N/AN/AN/A
6Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda ≥ 3,523
19Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark ≥ 1
19Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan ≥ 1
N/AFlag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe N/AN/AN/A
4Flag of Burundi.svg  Burundi ≥ 5,338
N/AFlag of Palestine.svg  Palestine, West Bank and Gaza StripN/AN/AN/A
19Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal ≥ 1
19Flag of Libya.svg  Libya ≥ 1
N/AFlag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan N/AN/AN/A
N/AFlag of Guinea.svg  Guinea N/AN/AN/A
19Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia ≥ 1
19Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe ≥ 1
N/AFlag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar N/AN/AN/A
14Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone ≥ 159
3Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen 7,051 [17]
19Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar ≥ 1
8Flag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti 952
19Flag of Mali.svg  Mali ≥ 1
N/AFlag of Chad.svg  Chad N/AN/AN/A
N/AFlag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic N/AN/AN/A
2Other or Unknown9,383By subtracting the confirmed number from the total number of immigrants
N/AFlag of Niger.svg  Niger N/AN/AN/A
N/AFlag of Malawi.svg  Malawi N/AN/AN/A
19Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia ≥ 1
N/AFlag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros N/AN/AN/A
19Flag of Angola.svg  Angola ≥ 1
N/ATotal immigrants52,131

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "International tourism, number of arrivals". World Bank. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  2. ↑ "Somali immigration authority calls for registration of foreigners". Sabahi. 11 April 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  3. ↑ "Somalia Builds Migration Management Capacity". Goobjoog. 30 November 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "Somalia passes new policy to restrict employment of 'foreign workers'". Horseed Media. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  5. 1 2 Mulupi, Dinfin (21 June 2012). "Mogadishu: East Africa's newest business destination?". How We Made It in Africa. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  6. ↑ "Somali Diaspora Corps". SSG. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  7. ↑ Mark T. Jones, Executive Director, Horn of Africa Business Association. "Opportunity Somalia". BN Magazine. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ "Refugees from Yemen Landed In Berabera Town". Goobjoog. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  9. ↑ "Yemen Houthis Say 30 Dead, Hundreds Hurt in Saudi Airstrike". Bloomberg. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  10. ↑ "SOMALIA: Gov't to launch population census ahead of 2016 elections". RBC Radio. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  11. ↑ "New tourism ministry under construction in Garowe". Sabahi. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  12. ↑ Coastal and Marine Environmental Problems of Somalia, Volume 1. UNEP. 1987. p. 127.
  13. ↑ "Somali Tourism Association (SOMTA)". Somali Tourism Association. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  14. ↑ "New epassport will help secure somalias borders". Midnimo. 23 December 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  15. ↑ "The Federal Republic of Somalia - Provisional Constitution" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 24, 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  16. ↑ "Somalia - International immigration". Somalia - International immigration. 2019. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  17. ↑ "Somalia - International immigration". Somalia - International immigration. 2019. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
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