Somalia and Switzerland

How do Somalia and Switzerland relate today?

Switzerland describes its relations with Somalia as good (Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), bilateral relations, 1 February 2026). It has no office inside Somalia; the Swiss embassy in Kenya is responsible for it (FDFA, Switzerland–Somalia).

Somalia is a priority country for Swiss development cooperation (FDFA). The current programme runs from 2026 to 2029 with a budget of about CHF 112 million, 98% of it from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) (FDFA, cooperation programme). It covers Somalia together with the dry lands of north-eastern Kenya and south-eastern Ethiopia (FDFA).

When did contact begin?

Switzerland recognised Somalia immediately after it became independent on 1 July 1960 (FDFA). It has given humanitarian aid to Somalia since independence, alongside development projects (FDFA).

Who are the ambassadors and envoys?

• Swiss side: the Embassy of Switzerland in Kenya, in Nairobi, covers Somalia, including visas and consular services (FDFA, representations).
• Cooperation office: the SDC regional office in Nairobi runs the programme for Somalia (FDFA).

No named Swiss or Somali ambassador appears in the Swiss government pages found.

Who built the tie?

The Swiss record names institutions rather than individuals. The SDC and the State Secretariat for Migration fund and run the programme together (FDFA, cooperation programme). Its main partners are UN agencies, non-governmental organisations, the African Union and the regional body IGAD (FDFA).

What does the Swiss programme do?

The 2026–2029 programme aims at "an inclusive and peaceful Somalia" and the nearby dry lands, built from the bottom up and aimed at the most vulnerable people (FDFA, themes, 30 March 2026). It has three outcomes (FDFA, themes):

• Peace and governance: helping communities, especially women and young people, take part in governance, and making institutions more inclusive and accountable.
• Human development: keeping health and water services running and cutting risks for herding and displaced communities.
• Climate-resilient economy: building incomes for displaced people and (agro-)pastoralists.

The programme focuses on three cross-border migration and trade corridors that link farming and herding areas with towns (FDFA, cooperation programme). The previous Horn of Africa programme, 2022–2025, worked on good governance, food security, health, migration and protection (FDFA).

How much do they trade?

Trade between the two countries was just over CHF 367,000 in 2020 (FDFA). Switzerland imported essential oils from Somalia and sold office equipment and electronic devices (FDFA).

Swiss customs figures reported to the UN, in US dollars (UN Comtrade, Switzerland–Somalia 2024):

• 2015: exports 1.0 million (UN Comtrade 2015)
• 2022: exports 1.3 million (UN Comtrade 2022)
• 2023: exports 1.3 million (UN Comtrade 2023)
• 2024: exports 0.31 million, imports 0.04 million

In 2024 most Swiss exports were optical and medical instruments (UN Comtrade, by product). Imports included gums and resins such as frankincense, and essential oils (UN Comtrade, by product). Remittances from the diaspora make a significant contribution to Somalia's economy, the FDFA notes (FDFA).

How much aid and money has gone in?

• 2026–2029: about CHF 112 million (FDFA, cooperation programme).
• Humanitarian aid: given since 1960, combined with development, political, migration and security tools (FDFA).
• Scholarships: Somali researchers and artists can apply for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (FDFA).

What about security?

Switzerland has no military role in Somalia in the sources found. Its peace work falls under "good governance" in its cooperation programme (FDFA). For foreign military forces see Foreign forces in Somalia.

How does Switzerland deal with Somaliland and the member states?

The Swiss programme pages describe work by corridor and community rather than by member state, and do not name Somaliland or the member states (FDFA, themes).

How many Somalis live in Switzerland?

At the end of 2020, 5,459 Somali citizens lived in Switzerland and 22 Swiss citizens lived in Somalia (FDFA). At the end of 2025 UNHCR counted 4,565 Somali refugees and 1,099 Somali asylum seekers in Switzerland (UNHCR Refugee Data Finder API). See Switzerland (Somali diaspora).

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

Switzerland works with the African Union, IGAD and UN agencies in Somalia (FDFA). It treats Somalia as part of the Greater Horn of Africa, one of five regional priorities of its Sub-Saharan Africa strategy for 2021–2024 (FDFA).

Related pages

• Switzerland (Somali diaspora)
• Refugee papers and status
• Foreign forces in Somalia