Human Rights in Somalia: Analytical Report 2025-2026

Somalia in 2025 and 2026 combines Al-Shabaab targeting, clan-based persecution, sexual and gender-based violence, LGBTQ+ criminalisation, attacks on journalists and a continuing humanitarian crisis. It complements our earlier Somalia analytical hub with fresh Q2 2026 detail.[1]

Somalia remains one of the world's most complex protection contexts — a fragmented state, a still-powerful jihadist insurgency, entrenched clan hierarchies, and specific vulnerabilities for women, LGBTQ+ people, minority clans, and journalists. Multiple asylum profiles remain strong.

Political Context

Federal Government

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (September 2022-). Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre. Continuing federal member state disputes. Somaliland independence claim (unrecognised). Puntland tensions with federal government.

Constitutional Amendments

2024 constitutional amendments partially adopted. Presidential election dispute risks continuing.

External

January 2024 Ethiopia-Somaliland MoU created major regional crisis. Turkey mediation. Continuing US drone strikes on Al-Shabaab. Kenya, Ethiopia, UAE, Egypt regional dynamics.

Al-Shabaab

Al-Shabaab (Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen) remains the primary armed threat.[2]

Territorial

Substantial rural southern and central Somalia control. Presence in Bay, Bakool, Middle Juba, Lower Juba. Urban attacks in Mogadishu. Cross-border operations in Kenya, Ethiopia.

2024-2026 Escalations

2022 government offensive with clan militias initially reversed some gains. 2023-2024 mixed results. March 2025 Mogadishu attacks. Continuing urban bombings 2025-2026.

Al-Shabaab Persecution

Forced recruitment — see our companion Al-Shabaab recruitment article. Zakat/taxation of communities. Governance impositions. Punishment of "un-Islamic" behaviour. Public executions. Assassination of officials.

Clan Persecution

Clan hierarchy shapes protection landscape.[3]

Structure

Major clans — Darod, Hawiye, Dir, Isaaq, Rahanweyn. Sub-clans and lineages. Traditional Xeer customary law.

Minority Groups

Persecution

Denial of protection from clan justice systems. Forced labour. Marriage restrictions. Historical enslavement legacy. Access to state institutions limited.

Women and Girls

FGM

~99% FGM prevalence (highest globally). Predominantly Type III (infibulation). Legally prohibited in draft law; not enacted federally. Somaliland 2016 Fatwa against Type III.

Sexual Violence

Documented use by armed actors including Al-Shabaab. IDP camp sexual violence. Under-reporting due to stigma.

Child Marriage

Common practice. Legal minimum unclear.

Political Participation

Quota system 30% recognised but not implemented.

LGBTQ+ Somalis

Somalia criminalises same-sex conduct.[4]

Somali Penal Code Article 409-410. Sharia law application. Death penalty possible under Al-Shabaab. Family and clan violence. No state protection. Diaspora activism criminalised on return.

Journalists

Somalia among world's most dangerous countries for journalists.[5]

Al-Shabaab targeting continuing. Federal and state government pressure. NUSOJ (National Union of Somali Journalists) monitoring. CPJ and RSF documentation.

Humanitarian Situation

Continuing drought and flood cycles. ~6.9M in need of humanitarian assistance 2024. ~3.9M IDPs. Famine risk periodically declared. OCHA HRP funding gaps.

Somaliland

Somaliland separate protection landscape.[6]

De facto independence since 1991. Not internationally recognised. Relatively stable but issues remain. Sool-Sanaag disputed territory tensions. SSC-Khaatumo tensions. Journalist arrests documented. LGBTQ+ criminalisation same. FGM continuing.

Puntland

Semi-autonomous. ISIS-Somalia presence. Tensions with federal government. Piracy legacy (much reduced).

Return Considerations

MOJ Framework

MOJ and Others (Return to Mogadishu) Somalia CG [2014] UKUT 442 (IAC) provides UK framework.[7]

Mogadishu generally accessible for return. Specific vulnerabilities require assessment. Women without male support face specific risks. Minority clans face specific risks. Al-Shabaab profile targets face specific risks.

Distinguishing MOJ

Applicants must show specific vulnerability beyond general Mogadishu returnee category.

Asylum Profiles

Legal Framework

Convention Grounds

PSG — women, LGBTQ+, minority clans. Race — minority clans. Religion — apostates. Political opinion — journalists, HRDs, Al-Shabaab opponents.

Case Law

MOJ and Others Somalia CG [2014] UKUT 442. Fornah v SSHD [2006] UKHL 46 (FGM framework). Shah and Islam [1999] UKHL 20. HJ (Iran) [2010] UKSC 31 (LGBTQ+ PSG).

Internal Relocation

Mogadishu accessible per MOJ but not viable for many profiles. Somaliland restrictive to non-Isaaq clans. Puntland restrictive. Rural south largely Al-Shabaab. Individual assessment required.

Evidence Framework

Country Evidence

UN Panel of Experts on Somalia. UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM). UN OHCHR Somalia. UK CPIN Somalia. HRW Somalia. Amnesty Somalia. NUSOJ for journalists. IraQueer-equivalent LGBTQ+ documentation.

Personal Evidence

Clan identity documentation. Prior activity evidence. Family targeting evidence. Medical evidence (FGM, injuries). Community witnesses.

Somalia remains one of the world's most complex asylum contexts — Al-Shabaab still holds territory, clan hierarchies persist, women and LGBTQ+ face severe restrictions, journalists die at rates equalled by few countries. MOJ CG is the framework; individual profile assessment is decisive.
UN OHCHR Somalia; UN Panel of Experts

Conclusion

Somalia human rights 2025-2026 remain critical. Al-Shabaab territorial and urban threat continuing. Clan hierarchies persist — minority Bantu, Benadiri, Bravanese, Midgan disadvantaged. Women face 99% FGM prevalence. LGBTQ+ criminalised. Journalists targeted. Humanitarian crisis continuing. MOJ Somalia CG [2014] UKUT 442 framework governs. 65-85% grant rates. See our companion Al-Shabaab recruitment article and existing Somalia hub articles.

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