The Americas
Somalia and Canada
Canada and Somalia established relations in 1968, suspended them in 1991 and restored them in 2013. Canada covers Somalia from its High Commission in Nairobi and gave CAD 78 million in assistance in 2022–23, while two-way goods trade was CAD 3.6 million in 2023. About 65,555 people of Somali origin lived in Canada in 2021.
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). 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).
The main facts today:
- Aid: Canadian international assistance to Somalia was CAD 78 million in 2022–23, through all channels (Global Affairs Canada).
- Trade: two-way merchandise trade was CAD 3.6 million in 2023 (Global Affairs Canada).
- People: Canada's 2021 Census counted 65,555 people of Somali origin (Statistics Canada, table 98-10-0356-01).
When did contact begin?
Canada and Somalia established diplomatic relations in 1968 (Global Affairs Canada). Relations were suspended after the Somali government collapsed in 1991 (Global Affairs Canada).
Canada re-established relations in 2013, after the Federal Government of Somalia was formed in 2012 (Global Affairs Canada).
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).
- Somalia: Dahir Hassan Abdi, ambassador to the United States since 2024, became non-resident ambassador to Canada in June 2026 (Shabelle via AllAfrica; Embassy of Somalia in the US).
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).
- 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).
- He was Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship from 10 January 2017 to 20 November 2019 (House of Commons, 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).
- Since 17 June 2025 he has chaired the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (House of Commons).
- 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).
- Dahir Hassan Abdi, Somalia's ambassador, presented credentials in Ottawa in June 2026 (Shabelle via AllAfrica).
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).
- Early 2019: enhanced bilateral cooperation began in education, health, gender equality and inclusive governance (Global Affairs Canada).
- IMF: Canada supports Somalia's economic institutions through the IMF's Somalia Trust Fund (Global Affairs Canada).
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).
How much do they trade?
Trade is small. In 2023 (Global Affairs Canada):
- 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).
- 2023: CAD 41 million in humanitarian assistance to UN, Red Cross and Red Crescent, and NGO partners (Global Affairs Canada).
- 2024–25: bilateral development aid was expected to reach CAD 9 million (Global Affairs Canada).
- 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).
Canadian humanitarian funding to Somalia recorded by the UN's Financial Tracking Service, in US dollars:
- 2011: US$34.4 million (OCHA FTS, 2011).
- 2017: US$31.2 million (OCHA FTS, 2017).
- 2022: US$36.2 million (OCHA FTS, 2022).
- 2024: US$18.8 million (OCHA FTS, 2024).
- 2025: US$19.0 million (OCHA FTS, 2025).
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). The troops rebuilt roads and bridges, cleared mines, reopened hospitals and guarded aid convoys (The Canadian Encyclopedia).
See Foreign forces in Somalia and 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). No Canadian office, agreement or statement on recognition of Somaliland was found in Canadian government records for this page.
Canada's main presence in a region was at Belet Huen, now in Hirshabelle state, in 1992–93 (The Canadian Encyclopedia).
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).
- 16 March 1993: Canadian troops detained, tortured and killed Shidane Arone, a 16-year-old Somali (The Canadian Encyclopedia).
- Afterwards: the whole Canadian Airborne Regiment was disbanded under Prime Minister Jean Chrétien (The Canadian Encyclopedia).
- 1997: a federal commission published "Dishonoured Legacy: The Lessons of the Somalia Affair," in five volumes (Government of Canada Publications).
How many Somalis live in Canada?
Canada's 2021 Census counted 65,555 people of Somali origin (Statistics Canada). See Canada (Somali diaspora).
Where does Canada stand in the UN and other bodies on Somalia?
Canada took part in UNITAF in 1992–93 (The Canadian Encyclopedia). Canada and Somalia work together in the UN, the International Civil Aviation Organization and UNESCO (Global Affairs Canada).
Related pages
Sources
- Global Affairs Canada, Canada–Somalia relations · international.gc.ca
- Shabelle via AllAfrica, 25 June 2026 · allafrica.com
- Statistics Canada, table 98-10-0356-01 · www150.statcan.gc.ca
- Embassy of Somalia in the US · usa.mfa.gov.so
- The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2019 · thecanadianencyclopedia.ca
- Office of Ahmed Hussen, MP · ahmedhussen.libparl.ca
- House of Commons, roles · noscommunes.ca
- Global Affairs Canada, 12 November 2024 · canada.ca
- OCHA FTS, 2011 · api.hpc.tools
- OCHA FTS, 2017 · api.hpc.tools
- OCHA FTS, 2022 · api.hpc.tools
- OCHA FTS, 2024 · api.hpc.tools
- OCHA FTS, 2025 · api.hpc.tools
- Government of Canada Publications · publications.gc.ca
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Same era
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- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- Somalia and the United StatesUS–Somalia relations, 1960 to 2026: ambassadors, the 1991 embassy closure, 2013 recognition, aid, debt relief, remittances and Somaliland.
- Somalia and BrazilSomalia and Brazil: relations since 1987, accreditation from Nairobi, and sugar and chicken exports of US$126 to 175 million a year.
- Somalia and CubaSomalia and Cuba: 1970s ties, Cuban advisers in Somalia, Castro's 1977 mediation, the switch to Ethiopia in the Ogaden War and the November 1977 break.