Baidoa, Somalia May 15, 2019: Women and children who are prepared to carry water and carry water on their heads

U.S. Relationship

Himba village with traditional huts near Etosha National Park in Namibia, Africa
Himba village with traditional huts near Etosha National Park in Namibia, Africa

U.S.-Somalia Relations

The U.S. established diplomatic relations with Somalia in 1960, following its constituent parts’ independence from British and Italian administration, respectively. Although the U.S. never formally severed diplomatic relations with Somalia, the U.S. Embassy in Somalia was closed in 1991. With the adoption of a provisional constitution, the U.S. formally recognized the new Federal Government of Somalia on January 17, 2013.
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Himba village with traditional huts near Etosha National Park in Namibia, Africa

U.S. Assistance to Somalia

The U.S. has provided $1.5 billion in humanitarian assistance in Somalia since 2006 to address the problems of drought, famine, and refugees. Since 2011, the U.S. has provided an additional $240 million in development assistance to support economic, political, and social sectors to achieve greater stability, establish a formal economy, obtain access to basic services, and attain representation through legitimate,
Read more about U.S. Assistance to Somalia
Himba village with traditional huts near Etosha National Park in Namibia, Africa

Bilateral Economic Relations

The U.S. has little trade or investment with Somalia. U.S. exports to Somalia include legumes, grain, baking-related goods, donated products, and machinery. U.S. imports from Somalia include precious stones and low-value shipments.

Integrated Country Strategies

The Integrated Country Strategy is the four-year strategy articulating U.S. priorities in a given country. The Chief of Mission leads the strategy.

Investment Climate Statements

The Investment Climate Statements analyze a variety of economies that are or could be markets for U.S. businesses and provide information on the business climates.

Fiscal Transparency Report

The Fiscal Transparency Report analyzes government transparency and identifies needed changes to improve public spending accountability.

The U.S. delivers COVID vaccines to Somalia.

COVID-19 Vaccine Deliveries

Since August, 2021 the United States has donated 1,485,980 safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses with the people of Somalia. This includes 847,080 Pfizer and 638,900 J&J doses. Of the 1,485,980 vaccine doses, 100% were donated in partnership with COVAX.

The United States is committed to leading an international and coordinated effort to accelerate access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines to meet global needs. The United States is working with other governments and partners including COVAX, Caricom, and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) to protect communities from COVID-19 and apply lessons from this pandemic to enhance health security now and in the future.

Learn more about our work Delivering Vaccines and on COVID-19 Recovery.

U.S. Department of State

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