# Somalia and Canada > Canada–Somalia relations: 1968 ties, the 1993 Belet Huen deployment and Somalia Inquiry, 2013 restoration, aid, trade and Somali Canadians in public life. Source page: https://calankii.com/en/relations/canada/ Last checked: 2026-11-13 Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) ## How do Somalia and Canada relate today? Canada has no embassy in Somalia. It covers the country from its High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya ([Global Affairs Canada, Canada–Somalia relations](https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/somalia-somalie/relations.aspx?lang=eng)). Somalia's ambassador in Washington, Dahir Hassan Abdi, presented his credentials as non-resident ambassador to Canada at Rideau Hall in Ottawa in June 2026 ([Shabelle via AllAfrica, 25 June 2026](https://allafrica.com/stories/202606250354.html)). The main facts today: - **Aid:** Canadian international assistance to Somalia was CAD 78 million in 2022–23, through all channels ([Global Affairs Canada](https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/somalia-somalie/relations.aspx?lang=eng)). - **Trade:** two-way merchandise trade was CAD 3.6 million in 2023 ([Global Affairs Canada](https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/somalia-somalie/relations.aspx?lang=eng)). - **People:** Canada's 2021 Census counted 65,555 people of Somali origin ([Statistics Canada, table 98-10-0356-01](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810035601)). ## When did contact begin? Canada and Somalia established diplomatic relations in 1968 ([Global Affairs Canada](https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/somalia-somalie/relations.aspx?lang=eng)). Relations were suspended after the Somali government collapsed in 1991 ([Global Affairs Canada](https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/somalia-somalie/relations.aspx?lang=eng)). Canada re-established relations in 2013, after the [Federal Government of Somalia](/en/institutions/federal-government-of-somalia/) was formed in 2012 ([Global Affairs Canada](https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/somalia-somalie/relations.aspx?lang=eng)). ## Who are the ambassadors and envoys? - **Canada:** relations are handled through the High Commission in Nairobi, and Canada has no resident mission in Somalia ([Global Affairs Canada](https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/somalia-somalie/relations.aspx?lang=eng)). - **Somalia:** Dahir Hassan Abdi, ambassador to the United States since 2024, became non-resident ambassador to Canada in June 2026 ([Shabelle via AllAfrica](https://allafrica.com/stories/202606250354.html); [Embassy of Somalia in the US](https://usa.mfa.gov.so/?p=8980)). The names of earlier Canadian heads of mission accredited to Somalia were not found in public records for this page. ## Who built the tie? - **The Canadian Airborne Regiment** sent about 1,400 soldiers to Belet Huen (Beledweyne) from December 1992, under the US-led UNITAF ([The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2019](https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-peacekeepers-in-somalia)). - **Ahmed Hussen**, born in Mogadishu, came to Canada as a refugee at 16 and was national president of the Canadian Somali Congress ([Office of Ahmed Hussen, MP](https://ahmedhussen.libparl.ca/about/)). - He was Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship from 10 January 2017 to 20 November 2019 ([House of Commons, roles](https://www.noscommunes.ca/MEMBERS/en/ahmed-hussen(89020)/roles)). - He was Minister of International Development from 26 July 2023 to 14 March 2025, the minister in charge of Canada's aid to Somalia ([House of Commons](https://www.noscommunes.ca/MEMBERS/en/ahmed-hussen(89020)/roles)). - Since 17 June 2025 he has chaired the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development ([House of Commons](https://www.noscommunes.ca/MEMBERS/en/ahmed-hussen(89020)/roles)). - **Somali Canadians in Somalia:** Global Affairs Canada notes that some Somali Canadians have returned to hold senior posts in Somalia's federal and regional governments ([Global Affairs Canada](https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/somalia-somalie/relations.aspx?lang=eng)). - **Dahir Hassan Abdi**, Somalia's ambassador, presented credentials in Ottawa in June 2026 ([Shabelle via AllAfrica](https://allafrica.com/stories/202606250354.html)). ## What agreements have they signed? No bilateral treaty between Canada and Somalia was found in public treaty records for this page. Canada's cooperation runs through programmes rather than treaties: - **2018:** Canada launched a dedicated bilateral development programme for Somalia ([Global Affairs Canada, 12 November 2024](https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2024/11/minister-hussen-announces-more-than-35-million-for-international-assistance-projects-in-africa.html)). - **Early 2019:** enhanced bilateral cooperation began in education, health, gender equality and inclusive governance ([Global Affairs Canada](https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/somalia-somalie/relations.aspx?lang=eng)). - **IMF:** Canada supports Somalia's economic institutions through the IMF's Somalia Trust Fund ([Global Affairs Canada](https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/somalia-somalie/relations.aspx?lang=eng)). ## Which leaders have visited? No visit by a Canadian prime minister or foreign minister to Somalia, or by a Somali president to Ottawa, was found in public records for this page. The highest-level contact on record is the June 2026 presentation of credentials at Rideau Hall ([Shabelle via AllAfrica](https://allafrica.com/stories/202606250354.html)). ## How much do they trade? Trade is small. In 2023 ([Global Affairs Canada](https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/somalia-somalie/relations.aspx?lang=eng)): - **Canadian exports to Somalia:** CAD 3.2 million, mainly machinery and parts, and protein concentrates. - **Canadian imports from Somalia:** CAD 390,400, mainly essential oils, sea cucumbers and construction equipment. ## How much aid and money has gone in? - **2022–23:** CAD 78 million in international assistance through all channels ([Global Affairs Canada](https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/somalia-somalie/relations.aspx?lang=eng)). - **2023:** CAD 41 million in humanitarian assistance to UN, Red Cross and Red Crescent, and NGO partners ([Global Affairs Canada](https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/somalia-somalie/relations.aspx?lang=eng)). - **2024–25:** bilateral development aid was expected to reach CAD 9 million ([Global Affairs Canada](https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/somalia-somalie/relations.aspx?lang=eng)). - **Counter-terrorism:** since 2019 Canada has spent more than CAD 11.7 million on counter-terrorism programmes across East Africa, including Somalia ([Global Affairs Canada](https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/somalia-somalie/relations.aspx?lang=eng)). Canadian humanitarian funding to Somalia recorded by the UN's Financial Tracking Service, in US dollars: - **2011:** US$34.4 million ([OCHA FTS, 2011](https://api.hpc.tools/v1/public/fts/flow?countryISO3=SOM&year=2011&groupby=organization)). - **2017:** US$31.2 million ([OCHA FTS, 2017](https://api.hpc.tools/v1/public/fts/flow?countryISO3=SOM&year=2017&groupby=organization)). - **2022:** US$36.2 million ([OCHA FTS, 2022](https://api.hpc.tools/v1/public/fts/flow?countryISO3=SOM&year=2022&groupby=organization)). - **2024:** US$18.8 million ([OCHA FTS, 2024](https://api.hpc.tools/v1/public/fts/flow?countryISO3=SOM&year=2024&groupby=organization)). - **2025:** US$19.0 million ([OCHA FTS, 2025](https://api.hpc.tools/v1/public/fts/flow?countryISO3=SOM&year=2025&groupby=organization)). ## What about security? Canada's largest deployment was in 1992–93. About 1,400 soldiers, mostly from the Canadian Airborne Regiment, served at Belet Huen, and the supply ship HMCS Preserver worked off the coast ([The Canadian Encyclopedia](https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-peacekeepers-in-somalia)). The troops rebuilt roads and bridges, cleared mines, reopened hospitals and guarded aid convoys ([The Canadian Encyclopedia](https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-peacekeepers-in-somalia)). See [Foreign forces in Somalia](/en/institutions/foreign-forces-in-somalia/) and [UN intervention 1992–1995](/en/history/un-intervention-1992-1995/). ## How does Canada deal with Somaliland and the member states? Canada's official relations are with the Federal Government of Somalia ([Global Affairs Canada](https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/somalia-somalie/relations.aspx?lang=eng)). No Canadian office, agreement or statement on recognition of [Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/) was found in Canadian government records for this page. Canada's main presence in a region was at Belet Huen, now in [Hirshabelle](/en/states/hirshabelle/) state, in 1992–93 ([The Canadian Encyclopedia](https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-peacekeepers-in-somalia)). ## Have there been disputes? The main dispute was inside Canada, over its own soldiers' conduct: - **March 1993:** Canadian soldiers shot and killed a Somali man who was trying to enter their camp ([The Canadian Encyclopedia](https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-peacekeepers-in-somalia)). - **16 March 1993:** Canadian troops detained, tortured and killed [Shidane Arone](/en/history/somalia-affair-canada-1993/), a 16-year-old Somali ([The Canadian Encyclopedia](https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-peacekeepers-in-somalia)). - **Afterwards:** the whole Canadian Airborne Regiment was disbanded under Prime Minister Jean Chrétien ([The Canadian Encyclopedia](https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-peacekeepers-in-somalia)). - **1997:** a federal commission published "Dishonoured Legacy: The Lessons of the Somalia Affair," in five volumes ([Government of Canada Publications](https://www.publications.gc.ca/site/eng/479844/publication.html)). ## How many Somalis live in Canada? Canada's 2021 Census counted 65,555 people of Somali origin ([Statistics Canada](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810035601)). See [Canada (Somali diaspora)](/en/diaspora/canada/). ## Where does Canada stand in the UN and other bodies on Somalia? Canada took part in UNITAF in 1992–93 ([The Canadian Encyclopedia](https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-peacekeepers-in-somalia)). Canada and Somalia work together in the UN, the International Civil Aviation Organization and UNESCO ([Global Affairs Canada](https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/somalia-somalie/relations.aspx?lang=eng)). ## Related pages - [Canada (Somali diaspora)](/en/diaspora/canada/) - [Somali Canadians in public life](/en/diaspora/somali-canadians-in-public-life/) - [Toronto](/en/diaspora/toronto/) - [Ottawa](/en/diaspora/ottawa/) - [UN intervention 1992–1995](/en/history/un-intervention-1992-1995/) - [Foreign forces in Somalia](/en/institutions/foreign-forces-in-somalia/) - [Somalia and the United States](/en/relations/united-states/) - [Ahmed Hussen](/en/people/ahmed-hussen/) --- I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. Fix this page: email hello@calankii.com with the page link and your source.