Somalia and the United States

How do Somalia and the United States relate today?

The two countries have full diplomatic relations. The US embassy sits inside the Mogadishu international airport complex (Congressional Research Service, IF10155, 21 July 2026). Somalia's embassy is at 1609 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC (Embassy of Somalia in the US).

The post of US ambassador has been empty since Richard H. Riley was recalled in December 2025 (Mogadishu Times, 23 December 2025). Justin Davis has led the embassy as chargé d'affaires since January 2026 (Streamline Feed, 15 September 2026). On 14 September 2026 the White House sent the nomination of Devin Kennington as ambassador to the Senate (Horn Diplomat via AllAfrica, 15 September 2026).

The relationship in 2026 has three main parts:

• Security: the United States carried out more than 130 air strikes in Somalia in 2025 and nearly 70 in the first half of 2026 (CRS, 2026).
• Aid: US obligations for Somalia fell from US$1,181 million in fiscal year 2023 to US$212 million in 2025 (ForeignAssistance.gov country data).
• Migration: Somali nationals have been barred from entry since 9 June 2025, and Temporary Protected Status for Somalia ended on 14 August 2026 (Holland & Knight, 5 June 2025; Dawan Africa, 19 August 2026).

When did contact begin?

A US Consulate General was working in Mogadishu before independence. On 1 July 1960 it was raised to an embassy, with Andrew G. Lynch as chargé d'affaires (Office of the Historian). The same day, President Dwight Eisenhower sent a message of congratulations to President Aden Abdulla Osman, which recognised the new Somali Republic (Office of the Historian).

US aid began before independence. Obligations were US$0.7 million in 1954 and US$15.1 million in 1962 (ForeignAssistance.gov country data). After the 1969 coup, Somalia aligned with the Soviet Union (Embassy of Somalia in the US).

Ties warmed again in 1977, when the Soviet Union backed Ethiopia in the Ogaden War (Library of Congress Country Study, via country-studies.com). A 1980 access agreement gave US forces use of ports and airfields at Berbera, Kismaayo and Mogadishu in exchange for military and economic aid (Country Study). Contemporary reports put the package at US$42 million over two years (Christian Science Monitor, 3 September 1980).

Who are the ambassadors and envoys?

US chiefs of mission in Somalia, from the State Department's own list (Office of the Historian, chiefs of mission):

• Andrew G. Lynch: chargé d'affaires from 1 July 1960, ambassador 11 July 1960 to 7 May 1962.
• Horace G. Torbert Jr.: 31 January 1963 to 29 August 1965.
• Raymond L. Thurston: 23 November 1965 to 15 December 1968.
• Fred L. Hadsel: 28 June 1969 to 18 July 1971.
• Matthew J. Looram Jr.: 13 March 1972 to 5 July 1973.
• Roger Kirk: 8 October 1973 to 20 February 1975.
• John L. Loughran: 13 August 1975 to 5 November 1978.
• Donald K. Petterson: 8 December 1978 to 30 December 1982.
• Robert B. Oakley: 26 January 1983 to 12 August 1984.
• Peter S. Bridges: 19 December 1984 to 14 May 1986.
• Trusten F. Crigler: 3 June 1987 to 1 April 1990.
• James K. Bishop: 19 September 1990 to 5 January 1991, when the embassy closed.
• Katherine S. Dhanani: nominated 25 February 2015; nomination withdrawn 11 May 2015.
• Stephen M. Schwartz: 9 August 2016 to 21 July 2017, the first ambassador since 1991.
• Martin Dale: chargé d'affaires, 21 July 2017 to 13 November 2018.
• Donald Y. Yamamoto: from 17 November 2018.

Later ambassadors:

• Larry André Jr.: arrived in January 2022 (Garowe Online, 30 March 2023).
• Richard H. Riley IV: presented credentials to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, reported on 22 June 2024 (Villa Somalia, 22 June 2024); recalled in December 2025 and left in January 2026 (Horn Diplomat via AllAfrica).
• Justin Davis: chargé d'affaires from January 2026 (Streamline Feed).
• Devin Kennington: nominated 14 September 2026; he was acting deputy chief of mission in Mogadishu in 2023–24 (Horn Diplomat via AllAfrica).

Somali ambassadors in Washington since 2014:

• Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke: ambassador before becoming prime minister; the first Somali ambassador to the US in more than two decades (Garowe Online, 18 September 2015).
• Ahmed Isse Awad: presented credentials to President Barack Obama in September 2015 (Garowe Online).
• Ali Sharif Ahmed: presented credentials to President Donald Trump on 16 September 2019 (Hiiraan Online, 17 September 2019).
• Dahir Hassan Abdi: nominated 19 May 2024, presented credentials to President Joe Biden on 18 September 2024 (Embassy of Somalia). In June 2026 he also became non-resident ambassador to Canada (Shabelle via AllAfrica, 25 June 2026).

Who built the tie?

• Dwight Eisenhower, US president, recognised the Somali Republic by message on 1 July 1960 (Office of the Historian).
• Abdirashid Ali Shermarke, prime minister, was a presidential guest in Washington on 27–29 November 1962 (Office of the Historian, visits).
• Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal, prime minister, made an official visit on 14–16 March 1968 (Office of the Historian, visits).
• Mohamed Siad Barre, president, made an official working visit on 9–14 March 1982, two years after the access agreement (Office of the Historian, visits).
• Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State, announced US recognition of the Somali government on 17 January 2013 with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (VOA via GlobalSecurity, 17 January 2013).
• Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, president, received recognition in 2013 and attended the US–Africa summits of 2014 and 2022 (Office of the Historian, visits).
• John Kerry, Secretary of State, made the first visit by a serving secretary to Somalia on 5 May 2015 (Office of the Historian, travels).
• Donald Yamamoto, ambassador, opened the permanent mission in Mogadishu in December 2018 (Al Jazeera, 5 December 2018).
• Richard Riley, ambassador, and Bihi Egeh, finance minister, signed the cancellation of US$1.14 billion of Somali debt on 5 November 2024 (AFP via EWN, 5 November 2024).
• Ted Cruz, senator and chair of the Senate Africa subcommittee, asked President Trump on 14 August 2025 to recognise Somaliland (Office of Senator Cruz, 14 August 2025).
• Scott Perry, congressman, introduced the Republic of Somaliland Independence Act (H.R. 3992) on 12 June 2025 (Congress.gov, bill text).
• Ali Mohamed Omar Balcad, Somalia's state minister for foreign affairs, offered in February 2026 to renew the 1980 access agreement (Shabelle via AllAfrica, 24 February 2026).

What agreements have they signed?

• 1980: military access agreement for ports and airfields at Berbera, Kismaayo and Mogadishu (Country Study). Its text is classified (Christian Science Monitor, 3 September 1980).
• 17 January 2013: exchange of diplomatic notes on recognition of the Federal Government (Al Jazeera, 17 January 2013).
• 5 November 2024: bilateral agreement cancelling US$1.14 billion of debt (AFP via EWN).

The United States and Somalia have no trade agreement (Office of the US Trade Representative).

Which leaders have visited?

Somali leaders in the United States (Office of the Historian, visits):

• 27–29 November 1962: Prime Minister Abdirashid Ali Shermarke, presidential guest.
• 14–16 March 1968: Prime Minister Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal, official visit; private visit on 6 October 1969.
• 11 October 1974: President Mohamed Siad Barre, private visit.
• 9–14 March 1982: President Siad Barre, official working visit.
• 17 January 2013: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, at the State Department and White House (VOA via GlobalSecurity).
• 5–6 August 2014 and 13–15 December 2022: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, US–Africa Leaders Summits.
• September 2025: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, UN General Assembly and meetings with US officials in New York (Shabelle via AllAfrica, 29 September 2025).

US leaders in Somalia:

• 31 December 1992 to 2 January 1993: President George H. W. Bush visited Mogadishu, Baidoa and Baledogle (Office of the Historian, presidential travels).
• 5–6 May 2015: Secretary of State John Kerry met President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke and regional leaders in Mogadishu (Office of the Historian, travels).

How much do they trade?

Trade is small. In 2025 US goods exports to Somalia were US$49.7 million and imports were US$0.7 million (USTR). Services trade was US$120 million in 2025 (USTR).

US exports include legumes, grain, baked goods and machinery; imports are mainly precious stones (Embassy of Somalia in the US). Somalia is not eligible for trade preferences under AGOA (USTR).

What about remittances and banking?

• 7 November 2001: the US Treasury blocked the al-Barakaat money transfer network under Executive Order 13224 (Federal Register, 19 March 2002). Two Barakaat entities and one person were removed from the list on 3 November 2009 (The EastAfrican).
• 2011: Sunrise Community Banks in Minnesota closed Somali-American remittance accounts (MinnPost, February 2015).
• 6 February 2015: Merchants Bank of California, which handled an estimated 60 to 80 percent of money sent to Somalia, ended its accounts with Somali transfer companies (VOA Learning English, 2015).
• 9 January 2026: the Treasury issued a Geographic Targeting Order requiring banks and money transmitters in Hennepin and Ramsey counties, Minnesota, to report transfers over US$3,000 to people abroad (Fox 9, January 2026). It was reissued on 7 August 2026 to run to 6 February 2027 (FinCEN order, August 2026).

How much aid and money has gone in?

US aid obligations to Somalia by fiscal year, in current US dollars (ForeignAssistance.gov country data):

• 1960s: US$3.0 million (1960), US$15.1 million (1962), US$16.4 million (1967).
• 1980s: US$87.3 million (1980), US$116.7 million (1985), US$21.3 million (1989).
• 1990s: US$5.8 million (1990), US$55.6 million (1992), US$108.0 million (1993), US$14.8 million (1995).
• 2000s: US$13.9 million (2000), US$103.4 million (2006), US$448.8 million (2009).
• 2010s: US$469.5 million (2012), US$252.6 million (2015), US$742.2 million (2018), US$762.7 million (2019).
• 2020s: US$825.1 million (2020), US$1,137.1 million (2022), US$1,181.0 million (2023), US$765.2 million (2024), US$212.0 million (2025).

US humanitarian funding recorded by the UN's Financial Tracking Service was US$1.28 billion in 2022, US$433 million in 2024 and US$53.6 million in 2025 (OCHA FTS, 2022; 2024; 2025). The United States was Somalia's largest humanitarian donor until 2025 (CRS, 2026).

Other money flows:

• Debt: Somalia owed the United States US$1.14 billion, cancelled on 5 November 2024 (AFP via EWN). In 2019 Congress approved up to US$35 million for the first phase of cancelling this debt (CRS, 17 January 2020).
• African Union mission: the United States has given nearly US$1.6 billion to troop-contributing countries and almost US$2 billion to the UN Support Office in Somalia (CRS, 2026).
• Cuts: in 1989 the George H. W. Bush administration ended military aid, and in 1990 Somalia became ineligible for aid after defaulting on loans (Country Study). In 2025–26 most US programmes in Somalia were terminated or allowed to expire (CRS, 2026).

What about security?

In 1992 the United States led UNITAF, about 37,000 troops from 24 countries, under Security Council resolution 794 (UN Peacekeeping, UNOSOM II background). On 3 October 1993, 18 US soldiers were killed in Mogadishu, and US forces were withdrawn by 31 March 1994 (UN Peacekeeping). Since 2007 the United States has trained and equipped African Union and Somali forces, including the Danab special forces, and it has carried out air strikes since 2003 (CRS, 2026).

See Foreign forces in Somalia, US air strikes in Somalia and UN intervention 1992–1995.

How does the United States deal with Somaliland and the member states?

The United States did not recognise Somaliland's 1991 declaration (Country Study). The State Department told Congress in 2026 that it recognises "the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, which includes the region of Somaliland" (CRS, 2026).

Main events:

• 14 March 2022: Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi began a visit to Washington and met members of Congress and officials (The EastAfrican).
• 17 March 2022: senators Jim Risch, Chris Van Hollen and Mike Rounds introduced the Somaliland Partnership Act (US Senate Foreign Relations Committee).
• 12 June 2025: H.R. 3992 proposed recognising Somaliland; it was referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee (Congress.gov).
• August 2025: the House Appropriations Committee asked the State Department for a report within 120 days on wider engagement with Somaliland (Horn Diplomat, 1 August 2025).
• Late December 2025: after Israel's recognition on 26 December, President Trump answered "No" when asked if the United States would follow (Al-Ahram).
• February 2026: a Somaliland official offered Washington access to bases and minerals; Somalia's government said such deals must go through federal institutions (Shabelle via AllAfrica).
• September 2026: President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi "Irro" made his first US visit, arriving in early September (Dawan Africa, 6 September 2026). On 29 October President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said the United States had not changed its position on Somalia's unity (Dawan Africa, 30 October 2026).

In Puntland, US air strikes have supported operations against the Islamic State cell since 2024 (CRS, 2026).

Have there been disputes?

• Embassy closure, 1991: the embassy closed on 5 January 1991, but relations were never cut (Office of the Historian).
• Travel bans: Somalia was one of seven countries in the 2017 visa ban (CRS, 2020). A proclamation of 4 June 2025 fully suspended entry of Somali nationals from 9 June 2025, citing weak government control and refusal to take back nationals (Holland & Knight). Ambassador Dahir Hassan Abdi said Somalia was ready for dialogue (Horn Observer).
• Remarks on Somalis, December 2025: on 2 December 2025 President Trump said of Somalis, "I don't want them in our country" (Al Jazeera, 4 December 2025). Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said it was "better to ignore" the words (Al Jazeera).
• Temporary Protected Status: the Department of Homeland Security ended TPS for Somalia; a Boston court let the decision take effect on 14 August 2026, affecting nearly 1,100 people (Dawan Africa).

How many Somalis live in the United States?

The US Census Bureau's 2024 survey counted 259,694 people of Somali ancestry (ACS 2024 1-year, B02025, via Census Reporter). See United States (Somali diaspora).

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

The United States voted for resolution 794 in December 1992 and led the force it created (UN Peacekeeping). Al-Shabaab has been listed by the State Department as a Foreign Terrorist Organization since 2008 (Federal Register, 18 March 2008). Executive Order 13536 of 12 April 2010 set up US sanctions on people who threaten Somalia's peace (OFAC, 13 April 2010). In 2026 the administration planned to end funding for the UN Support Office in Somalia (CRS, 2026).

Related pages

• United States (Somali diaspora)
• Somali Americans in public office
• Foreign forces in Somalia
• US air strikes in Somalia
• UN intervention 1992–1995
• Battle of Mogadishu 1993
• Al-Barakat
• Debt and debt relief
• Remittances in numbers
• Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
• Siad Barre
• Abdirashid Ali Shermarke
• Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal
• Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke
• Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro
• Muse Bihi Abdi