Denmark in Somalia

Somalia has experienced significant progress the past years in terms of state-building and institutional and economic reforms. Somalia continues to face serious challenges, however, that contribute to instability in the Horn of Africa. Instability directly affects Europe and Denmark. Accordingly, Denmark remain a committed partner to Somalia on its  course towards stability, peace and state building.

The country policy paper for Somalia outlines the vision and strategic interests of Danish engagement in Somalia with the overall vision being:

to support the development of a stable, peaceful and resilient Somalia undergoing inclusive economic development, which can offer its citizens a positive future and where the government is able to exercise authority with the aim that the situation in Somalia no longer constitutes a threat to regional or international peace, security and welfare.

Over a number of years, Somalia has been a so-called priority country for Danish development policy. The Danish engagement in and with Somalia implements the vision in Denmark's Strategy for Development Cooperation. For the period 2024-2028, Denmark will work to promote this vision with three strategic objectives where Somalia and Denmark have coinciding interests and aims, and where Denmark can contribute to the achievement of the SDGs in Somalia:

1. Ensure adaptation to climate change through equitable access to resources and enabling inclusive and green growth.
2. Promote stability and security, inclusive state building and protection of human rights
3. Strengthen resilience and addressing displacement and migration.

The Denmark-Somalia Bilateral Development Programme 2024-2028 and the Peace and Stabilisation Programme 2023-2026 provide a coherent framework for delivering development assistance to support these policy objectives.