Asia and the Pacific
Somalia and Japan
Japan works with Somalia mainly as an aid donor, through JICA and UN agencies, and covers the country from its embassy in Nairobi. Japan's humanitarian funding for Somalia peaked at US$51.4 million in 2013, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged US$40 million when President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited Tokyo in March 2014. Since 2009 Japan has also sent ships and aircraft against piracy off Somalia, based in Djibouti.
How do Somalia and Japan relate today?
Japan's ties with Somalia are mostly about aid. JICA says it supports Somalia's government capacity, poverty reduction and people's livelihoods, working with neighbouring countries and international organisations (JICA, Somalia). JICA files its Somalia news under its Kenya office (JICA, Somalia (Japanese)).
Japan's humanitarian funding recorded by the UN was US$19.1 million in 2024 and US$5.4 million in 2025 (OCHA FTS, 2024; 2025).
When did contact begin?
Japan and Somalia had diplomatic relations before the Somali state collapsed. Somalia opened an embassy in Tokyo in 1982 and closed it in 1990 (Wikipedia, Japan–Somalia relations, citing Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
After the Federal Government was formed in 2012, Japan resumed direct assistance (JICA, Somalia).
Who are the ambassadors and envoys?
Japan's ambassador to Somalia has been based in Nairobi. Tatsushi Terada succeeded Atoshisa Takata and presented his credentials to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Mogadishu in January 2014 (Wikipedia, Japan–Somalia relations, citing Somali Current). Fuller lists of Japanese and Somali envoys were not found in records that could be opened for this page.
Who built the tie?
- Shinzo Abe, prime minister, met President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Tokyo in March 2014 and announced a US$40 million package for humanitarian needs, rebuilding the police and creating jobs (Horseed Media, 13 March 2014).
- Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, president, asked Japan in the same visit for help with vocational training, fisheries and farm infrastructure, ICT and maritime training (Horseed Media).
- Tatsushi Terada, ambassador, presented credentials in Mogadishu in January 2014 (Wikipedia, citing Somali Current).
- JICA in March 2022 invited senior Somali officials to northern Uganda to learn from that region's recovery (JICA, Somalia (Japanese)).
What agreements have they signed?
No bilateral treaty was found in records that could be opened for this page. Japan's aid is given through project agreements with JICA and through UN agencies (JICA, Somalia).
Which leaders have visited?
- March 2014: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud made an official visit to Tokyo and held talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (Horseed Media).
No visit by a Japanese prime minister or foreign minister to Somalia was found.
How much do they trade?
No reliable bilateral trade figures were found in sources that could be opened for this page.
How much aid and money has gone in?
By March 2014 Japan had given about US$300 million to Somalia since 2007, of which US$60 million was for security (Horseed Media, 13 March 2014).
JICA's own figures (JICA, country data, Somalia):
- Technical cooperation in fiscal 2023: ¥161 million.
- Technical cooperation since 1954: ¥2.036 billion in total.
- Trainees: 58 new in 2023, and 370 in all.
- Japanese experts: 57 in all.
JICA projects include training to help young people and vulnerable groups find jobs and start businesses (JICA, Somalia (Japanese)).
Japan's humanitarian funding to Somalia recorded by the UN's Financial Tracking Service:
- 2008: US$12.7 million (OCHA FTS, 2008).
- 2011: US$39.7 million (OCHA FTS, 2011).
- 2013: US$51.4 million, the highest year (OCHA FTS, 2013).
- 2017: US$29.8 million (OCHA FTS, 2017).
- 2022: US$27.1 million (OCHA FTS, 2022).
- 2024: US$19.1 million (OCHA FTS, 2024).
- 2025: US$5.4 million (OCHA FTS, 2025).
What about security?
Japan's security role is at sea. In June 2009 it sent a unit of about 150 personnel with two P-3C patrol aircraft to Djibouti for anti-piracy work off Somalia (Akahata, 3 November 2010). Japan then built its first overseas Self-Defense Force facility next to Djibouti airport, on 12 hectares, at a cost of ¥4.7 billion, with completion planned for March 2011 (Akahata).
See Piracy off Somalia and Foreign forces in Somalia.
How does Japan deal with Somaliland and the member states?
No Japanese office, agreement or statement on Somaliland or the member states was found in sources that could be opened for this page. Japan's aid is channelled through the federal government, UN agencies and JICA (JICA, Somalia).
Have there been disputes?
No dispute between the two governments was found in the sources used. In Japan, a Communist Party councillor argued in 2010 that the Djibouti base breached Japan's constitution (Akahata, 3 November 2010).
How many Somalis live in Japan?
No official count of Somalis in Japan was found.
Where does Japan stand in the UN and other bodies on Somalia?
Japan works with the UN and other donors on Somalia; much of its aid is given through international organisations (JICA, Somalia). Its naval and air patrols are part of the international anti-piracy effort in the Gulf of Aden (Akahata, 2010).
Related pages
Sources
- JICA, Somalia · jica.go.jp
- JICA, Somalia (Japanese) · jica.go.jp
- OCHA FTS, 2024 · api.hpc.tools
- 2025 · api.hpc.tools
- Wikipedia, Japan–Somalia relations, citing Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs · en.wikipedia.org
- Horseed Media, 13 March 2014 · horseedmedia.net
- JICA, country data, Somalia · jica.go.jp
- OCHA FTS, 2008 · api.hpc.tools
- OCHA FTS, 2011 · api.hpc.tools
- OCHA FTS, 2013 · api.hpc.tools
- OCHA FTS, 2017 · api.hpc.tools
- OCHA FTS, 2022 · api.hpc.tools
- Akahata, 3 November 2010 · japan-press.co.jp
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