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Somalia and Denmark

Denmark's partnership with Somalia spans four decades and is now one of Denmark's largest bilateral aid programmes. Its 2024 to 2028 framework is worth DKK 1.1 billion, run from Nairobi with offices in Mogadishu and, since August 2012, Hargeisa. Denmark keeps a strong focus on Somaliland, while stating that this is separate from Somaliland's aim of independence.

Last checked 2026-11-13 16 sources Reading time: 8 min

How do Somalia and Denmark relate today?

Denmark covers Somalia from its embassy in Nairobi and has two offices inside the country. Its Mogadishu office sits in the European Union diplomatic compound, and its Hargeisa programme office has run since August 2012 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, About us). Steen Sonne is the Danish ambassador who represents Denmark in Somalia (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark).

Aid is the centre of the tie. Denmark's Somalia Country Strategic Framework for 2024 to 2028 is worth DKK 1.1 billion across eight projects and a reserve (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark). The framework calls Somalia one of Denmark's largest bilateral development portfolios worldwide (Danish Strategic Framework for Somalia 2024–2028).

Denmark gave US$54.9 million in bilateral aid in 2024 (OECD DAC2A). Its exports to Somalia were worth US$3.4 million that year (UN Comtrade).

When did contact begin?

Diplomatic relations were established on 9 July 1960, days after independence, according to Somalia's foreign ministry list (Wikipedia, Denmark–Somalia relations, citing the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Denmark's government says its partnership with Somalia spans four decades (Danish Strategic Framework 2024–2028).

Early Danish work focused on the sea: first on building Somalia's fishing industry, later on maritime security and counter-piracy (Danish Strategic Framework 2024–2028). On 24 March 1981 the two governments signed in Stockholm an interest-free Danish loan of DKK 45 million for Danish capital goods and services (UN Treaty Series, vol. 1259, No. 20676).

The loan text speaks of the two countries' "traditional co-operation and cordial relations" (UN Treaty Series, No. 20676). Repayment was set in 79 half-yearly instalments of DKK 560,000 from 1 April 1991 to 2030 (UN Treaty Series, No. 20676).

Who are the ambassadors and envoys?

Offices: the Danish embassy in Nairobi, the Mogadishu office in the EU compound, and the Hargeisa programme office, which serves the Somaliland, Puntland and south-central portfolio (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark).

Who built the tie?

  • H. Hjorth-Nielsen signed the 1981 loan for Denmark and A. Issa signed for Somalia, in Stockholm on 24 March 1981 (UN Treaty Series, No. 20676).
  • Geert Aagaard Andersen restored ambassador-level ties in December 2013 (Wikipedia, citing SomaliCurrent).
  • Christian Friis Bach, Danish minister and co-chair of the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding, spoke for the New Deal process at the Brussels conference of 16 September 2013, where the Somali Compact was endorsed (EEAS, Somalia New Deal Conference).
  • Jeppe Kofod, foreign minister, visited Mogadishu on 6 November 2019. He met Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire and Foreign Minister Ahmed Isse Awad at the airport and announced a permanent Danish representation (DR, 6 November 2019).
  • Ahmed Isse Awad, Somalia's foreign minister, raised the return of Somalis from Denmark in the same 2019 talks (DR, 6 November 2019).
  • Steen Sonne, ambassador, heads Denmark's representation during the 2024 to 2028 framework (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark).

What agreements have they signed?

Which leaders have visited?

  • 6 November 2019: Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod in Mogadishu. Security limits kept the meetings at the airport (DR, 6 November 2019).
  • December 2013: Ambassador Geert Aagaard Andersen presents credentials in Mogadishu (Wikipedia, citing SomaliCurrent).

How much do they trade?

UN Comtrade records Danish exports to Somalia of:

In 2024 the largest export groups were electrical equipment, machinery, vehicles and leather goods (UN Comtrade, HS chapters, 2024).

How much aid and money has gone in?

Danish bilateral aid disbursements to Somalia, in current US dollars (OECD DAC2A):

  • US$17.5 million in 2010 and US$40.5 million in 2012
  • US$15.0 million in 2015
  • US$60.0 million in 2019, the highest in the series
  • US$36.9 million in 2022
  • US$51.4 million in 2023 and US$54.9 million in 2024

In November 2019 Kofod announced DKK 1 billion for Somalia over four years (DR, 6 November 2019). The 2024 to 2028 bilateral budget is DKK 1.1 billion, with commitments of DKK 345 million (2024), 385 million (2025), 200 million (2026) and 170 million (2027) (Danish Strategic Framework 2024–2028).

The framework has three goals (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark):

  • climate adaptation, fair access to resources and green growth
  • stability, security, inclusive state-building and human rights
  • resilience, displacement and migration

Through the multi-donor Somaliland Development Fund, Denmark says it helped 1.4 million people get access to over 11 million litres of water a day and built over 150 km of roads (Danish Strategic Framework 2024–2028).

What about security?

Denmark's Peace and Stabilisation Fund, set up in 2010, joins aid and non-aid money from the foreign, defence and justice ministries (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark). Its Horn of Africa programme, now in its fourth phase for 2023 to 2026, targets violent extremism, maritime insecurity, crime, climate-linked conflict and irregular migration (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark). In South West State, Hirshabelle, Galmudug and Jubaland it supports early recovery and the reintegration of former Al-Shabaab fighters (Danish Strategic Framework 2024–2028). For foreign military roles, see Foreign forces in Somalia.

How does Denmark deal with Somaliland and the member states?

Denmark has had a programme office in Hargeisa since August 2012 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark). Its 2024 to 2028 framework says Denmark will keep a strong focus on Somaliland, citing its location and relative stability (Danish Strategic Framework 2024–2028).

The same framework states Denmark's position on status. It says Denmark's strong presence in Somaliland is separate from Somaliland's ambition of independence (Danish Strategic Framework 2024–2028). It says Somaliland's legal status should be settled through dialogue between the Somali parties, with support from regional institutions (Danish Strategic Framework 2024–2028).

The bilateral programme focuses partly on Puntland and Somaliland. The stabilisation programme focuses on South West State, Hirshabelle, Galmudug and Jubaland (Danish Strategic Framework 2024–2028).

Have there been disputes?

The return of Somalis from Denmark has been a standing topic. In 2019 Somalia's foreign minister said returns were being discussed with the Danish ambassador, while Kofod said the matter was not his ministry's area (DR, 6 November 2019). The 2024 to 2028 framework links Danish support to curbing irregular migration, including towards Europe (Danish Strategic Framework 2024–2028).

How many Somalis live in Denmark?

On 1 October 2026, 21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark (Statistics Denmark, FOLK1C). See Denmark (Somali diaspora).

Where does Denmark stand in the UN and other bodies on Somalia?

Denmark works on Somalia both bilaterally and through the EU, under the EU–Somalia Joint Operational Roadmap (Danish Strategic Framework 2024–2028). The framework says Denmark would use a UN Security Council seat to draw on its experience in conflict-affected countries such as Somalia (Danish Strategic Framework 2024–2028).

Sources

  1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. "About us," Somalia. um.dk. Checked 2026-11-12.
  2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. "The Somalia Country Strategic Framework 2024–2028." um.dk. Checked 2026-11-12.
  3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. "Danmarks strategiske ramme for Somalia 2024–2028." June 2024. um.dk PDF. Checked 2026-11-12.
  4. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. "Peace and Stabilisation." um.dk. Checked 2026-11-12.
  5. United Nations Treaty Series, vol. 1259, No. 20676. Agreement on a Danish Government loan to the Somali Democratic Republic, Stockholm, 24 March 1981. treaties.un.org. Checked 2026-11-12.
  6. DR. "Jeppe Kofod nåede ikke længere end lufthavnen på hemmeligt visit i Somalia." 6 November 2019. dr.dk. Checked 2026-11-12.
  7. Wikipedia. "Denmark–Somalia relations" (used only for the 1960 date and the 2013 ambassador, whose underlying sources are offline). en.wikipedia.org. Checked 2026-11-12.
  8. SONNA. Somali ambassador to Nordic countries presents credentials to King Harald V. 13 February 2026. sonna.so. Checked 2026-11-12.
  9. OECD. DAC2A, ODA disbursements to Somalia by donor. sdmx.oecd.org. Checked 2026-11-12.
  10. UN Comtrade. Denmark–Somalia trade, 2015 to 2024. comtradeapi.un.org. Checked 2026-11-12.
  11. Statistics Denmark. StatBank FOLK1C. statbank.dk.
  12. European External Action Service. "Somalia New Deal Conference," Brussels, 16 September 2013. eeas.europa.eu. Checked 2026-11-12.

Sources

  1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, About us · um.dk
  2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark · um.dk
  3. Danish Strategic Framework for Somalia 2024–2028 · um.dk
  4. OECD DAC2A · sdmx.oecd.org
  5. UN Comtrade · comtradeapi.un.org
  6. Wikipedia, Denmark–Somalia relations, citing the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs · en.wikipedia.org
  7. UN Treaty Series, vol. 1259, No. 20676 · treaties.un.org
  8. SONNA, 13 February 2026 · sonna.so
  9. EEAS, Somalia New Deal Conference · eeas.europa.eu
  10. DR, 6 November 2019 · dr.dk
  11. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark · um.dk
  12. UN Comtrade · comtradeapi.un.org
  13. UN Comtrade · comtradeapi.un.org
  14. UN Comtrade · comtradeapi.un.org
  15. UN Comtrade, HS chapters, 2024 · comtradeapi.un.org
  16. Statistics Denmark, FOLK1C · statbank.dk

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