# Somalia and Qatar > Somalia and Qatar: embassies, the 2015 and 2018 agreements, the Hobyo port project, aid through QFFD and Qatar Charity, the 2026 defence deal. Source page: https://calankii.com/en/relations/qatar/ Last checked: 2026-11-13 Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) ## How do Somalia and Qatar relate today? Somalia has an embassy in Doha and [Qatar](/en/diaspora/qatar/) has an embassy in Mogadishu ([Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs, archived 2016, via Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar–Somalia_relations)). On 19 January 2026 the two countries signed a defence cooperation agreement in Doha, covering military training, exchange of expertise and defence capabilities ([SONNA, 19 January 2026](https://sonna.so/en/somalia-qatar-sign-defence-cooperation-agreement-in-doha/)). Qatar's money reaches Somalia mainly through aid. In 2025 the Qatar Fund for Development reported US$24.2 million and Qatar Charity US$21.3 million of humanitarian funding to Somalia ([UN OCHA Financial Tracking Service, 2025](https://api.hpc.tools/v1/public/fts/flow?locationid=206&year=2025&groupby=organization)). Goods trade is small ([WITS, World Bank](https://wits.worldbank.org/API/V1/SDMX/V21/datasource/tradestats-trade/reporter/QAT/year/2023/partner/SOM/product/Total/indicator/XPRT-TRD-VL)). ## When did contact begin? Wikipedia gives 1970 as the year formal relations were set up, without a source ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar–Somalia_relations)). In 1983 the two governments signed a labour agreement on recruiting Somali workers for Qatar ([Qatar MOFA, archived, via Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar–Somalia_relations)). In the 1980s Somalia depended more and more on aid from Qatar, [Kuwait](/en/diaspora/kuwait/), Saudi Arabia and the UAE. After Somalia joined the US-led coalition against Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Qatar cancelled all further repayments on its outstanding loans to Somalia ([Library of Congress, Somalia: A Country Study, Relations with Arab Countries](https://countrystudies.us/somalia/79.htm)). ## Who are the ambassadors and envoys? - **Abdirizak Farah Ali:** Somali ambassador in Doha, as listed by Qatar's foreign ministry in 2016 ([Qatar MOFA, archived, via Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar–Somalia_relations)). - **Hasan bin Hamza [Asad](/en/society/films-about-somalia/) Mohammed:** Qatari ambassador in Mogadishu, same listing ([Qatar MOFA, archived, via Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar–Somalia_relations)). No full list of ambassadors was found for this page. ## Who built the tie? - **[Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke](/en/people/omar-abdirashid-sharmarke/)**, Somali prime minister: met Qatari Prime Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani in Doha on 18 to 19 March 2015, where education and civil aviation agreements were signed ([Horseed Media, 18 March 2015, archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150320120715/http://horseedmedia.net/2015/03/18/somalia-and-qatar-sign-education-and-civil-aviation-agreements/)). - **Jassim bin Saif Al-Sulaiti**, Qatari transport minister: launched the Hobyo port project in Mogadishu on 19 August 2019 ([Middle East Monitor, 20 August 2019](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190820-qatar-launches-construction-work-in-central-somalia-port/)). - **Maryan Aweys Jama**, Somali ports minister: Somalia's side of the Hobyo launch ([Middle East Monitor](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190820-qatar-launches-construction-work-in-central-somalia-port/)). - **Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani**, Qatari foreign minister, and **[Hassan Ali Khaire](/en/people/hassan-ali-khaire/)**, Somali prime minister: attended the Hobyo launch ([Middle East Monitor](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190820-qatar-launches-construction-work-in-central-somalia-port/)). - **Ahmed Moallim Fiqi**, Somali defence minister, and **[Sheikh](/en/regions/sheikh/) Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani**, Qatar's deputy prime minister for defence: signed the January 2026 defence agreement ([SONNA](https://sonna.so/en/somalia-qatar-sign-defence-cooperation-agreement-in-doha/); [The National, 20 January 2026](https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/gulf/2026/01/20/somalia-and-qatar-deepen-defence-ties-with-new-co-operation-agreement/)). - **Fahad Yasin**: a former Al Jazeera Arabic journalist in Mogadishu and researcher at the Al Jazeera Centre for Studies, later chief of staff at [Villa Somalia](/en/institutions/president-and-council-of-ministers/) (2017–2018) and head of NISA (2019–2021) ([Al Jazeera Centre for Studies](https://studies.aljazeera.net/en/profile/fahad-yasiin); [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fahad_Yasin)). ## What agreements have they signed? - **1983:** labour agreement on recruiting Somali workers ([Qatar MOFA, archived, via Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar–Somalia_relations)). - **March 2015:** agreements on education and civil aviation ([Horseed Media, archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150320120715/http://horseedmedia.net/2015/03/18/somalia-and-qatar-sign-education-and-civil-aviation-agreements/)). - **December 2018:** development agreements signed in Doha, including one to rebuild Hobyo port ([Middle East Monitor](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190820-qatar-launches-construction-work-in-central-somalia-port/)). - **19 January 2026:** defence cooperation agreement, signed at the DIMDEX exhibition in Doha ([SONNA](https://sonna.so/en/somalia-qatar-sign-defence-cooperation-agreement-in-doha/)). ## Which leaders have visited? - **18 to 19 March 2015:** Prime Minister Sharmarke in Doha ([Horseed Media, archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150320120715/http://horseedmedia.net/2015/03/18/somalia-and-qatar-sign-education-and-civil-aviation-agreements/)). - **19 August 2019:** Qatar's foreign and transport ministers in Mogadishu, with [Ahmed Duale Gelle](/en/people/ahmed-duale-gelle/), named in the report as the [Mudug](/en/regions/mudug/) regional president ([Middle East Monitor](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190820-qatar-launches-construction-work-in-central-somalia-port/)). - **19 January 2026:** Defence Minister Fiqi in Doha; Qatar's chief of staff Lt Gen Jassim Al Mannai attended the signing ([The National](https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/gulf/2026/01/20/somalia-and-qatar-deepen-defence-ties-with-new-co-operation-agreement/)). ## How much do they trade? From World Bank WITS data: - **Qatar's exports to Somalia:** US$2.1 million in 2019 and US$7.6 million in 2023 ([WITS, 2019](https://wits.worldbank.org/API/V1/SDMX/V21/datasource/tradestats-trade/reporter/QAT/year/2019/partner/SOM/product/Total/indicator/XPRT-TRD-VL); [WITS, 2023](https://wits.worldbank.org/API/V1/SDMX/V21/datasource/tradestats-trade/reporter/QAT/year/2023/partner/SOM/product/Total/indicator/XPRT-TRD-VL)). - **Qatar's imports from Somalia:** US$5.6 million in 2019 and US$13.2 million in 2023 ([WITS, 2019](https://wits.worldbank.org/API/V1/SDMX/V21/datasource/tradestats-trade/reporter/QAT/year/2019/partner/SOM/product/Total/indicator/MPRT-TRD-VL); [WITS, 2023](https://wits.worldbank.org/API/V1/SDMX/V21/datasource/tradestats-trade/reporter/QAT/year/2023/partner/SOM/product/Total/indicator/MPRT-TRD-VL)). The 2015 civil aviation agreement was to be followed by Qatar Airways flights to Mogadishu ([Horseed Media, archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150320120715/http://horseedmedia.net/2015/03/18/somalia-and-qatar-sign-education-and-civil-aviation-agreements/)). ## How much aid and money has gone in? Humanitarian funding reported to the UN Financial Tracking Service (FTS): - **2011:** Qatar government US$5.7 million; Qatar Charity US$2.9 million ([FTS, 2011](https://api.hpc.tools/v1/public/fts/flow?locationid=206&year=2011&groupby=organization)). - **2017:** Qatar Charity US$4.3 million; Qatar government US$0.8 million ([FTS, 2017](https://api.hpc.tools/v1/public/fts/flow?locationid=206&year=2017&groupby=organization)). - **2022:** Qatar Charity US$21.6 million; Qatar Fund for Development US$19.9 million; Qatar government US$3.2 million ([FTS, 2022](https://api.hpc.tools/v1/public/fts/flow?locationid=206&year=2022&groupby=organization)). - **2023:** Qatar Fund for Development US$14.5 million; Qatar Charity US$5.9 million ([FTS, 2023](https://api.hpc.tools/v1/public/fts/flow?locationid=206&year=2023&groupby=organization)). - **2025:** Qatar Fund for Development US$24.2 million; Qatar Charity US$21.3 million; Qatar Red Crescent US$2.1 million ([FTS, 2025](https://api.hpc.tools/v1/public/fts/flow?locationid=206&year=2025&groupby=organization)). FTS counts only humanitarian funding that donors or agencies report. Development projects such as Hobyo port are not included. ## What about security? The January 2026 agreement covers military training and security coordination ([SONNA](https://sonna.so/en/somalia-qatar-sign-defence-cooperation-agreement-in-doha/)). For foreign military roles, see [Foreign forces in Somalia](/en/institutions/foreign-forces-in-somalia/). ## How does Qatar deal with Somaliland and the member states? - **Galmudug:** Qatar's Hobyo port project is in Mudug region, in Galmudug State ([Middle East Monitor](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190820-qatar-launches-construction-work-in-central-somalia-port/)). - **[Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/):** Qatar condemned Israel's December 2025 recognition of Somaliland at a special UN Security Council session ([The National, 20 January 2026](https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/gulf/2026/01/20/somalia-and-qatar-deepen-defence-ties-with-new-co-operation-agreement/)). ## Have there been disputes? - **Gulf crisis, 2017:** when Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain cut ties with Qatar in June 2017, Somalia's federal government did not take sides. Some federal member states sided with the UAE ([Daily Sabah, 16 April 2018](https://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/2018/04/16/uae-ends-military-training-program-in-somalia-after-cash-seizure-crisis)). Somalia refused Emirati and Saudi pressure to cut ties with Qatar ([Al Jazeera, 11 April 2018](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/somalia-disbands-uae-programme-pay-train-soldiers-180411190249670.html)). - **Kenya, 2021:** Somalia restored relations with Kenya in May 2021 with Qatari mediation ([Reuters, 6 May 2021, via Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya–Somalia_relations)). ## How many Somalis live in Qatar? No reliable recent count was found. The 1983 labour agreement covered the recruitment of Somali workers ([Qatar MOFA, archived, via Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar–Somalia_relations)). ## Where does Qatar stand in the UN and other bodies on Somalia? Qatar backed the Somali reconciliation conferences in Djibouti (2000) and Khartoum ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar–Somalia_relations)). In December 2025 it joined most Security Council members in condemning Israel's recognition of Somaliland ([The National](https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/gulf/2026/01/20/somalia-and-qatar-deepen-defence-ties-with-new-co-operation-agreement/)). ## Related pages - [Foreign forces in Somalia](/en/institutions/foreign-forces-in-somalia/) - [Galmudug](/en/states/galmudug/) - [Ports](/en/economy/ports/) - [Aid and humanitarian funding](/en/economy/aid-and-humanitarian-funding/) - [NISA](/en/institutions/nisa/) --- I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. Fix this page: email hello@calankii.com with the page link and your source.