Somalia

Mine survey and clearance were again severely impeded by armed conflict and insecurity in 2024, preventing safe access to many areas. The number of anti-personnel (AP) mines found and destroyed in Somalia increased compared to 2023, but remained extremely low. Somalia revised the national mine action standards (NMAS) for non-technical survey (NTS) and risk education with support from the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), a process that had been stalled since 2018. Full transition to Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) Core was further delayed, but work continued in 2024 and was expected to be finalised by the end of 2025. On 1 June 2024, following halting progress since 2016, the Office of the Prime Minister finally submitted Somalia’s Mine Action Bill to the Federal Parliament for its approval. However, the Bill remained pending at the time of writing, and the Somali Explosive Management Authority (SEMA) was not optimistic that it would pass before the end of 2025.

• Somalia should ensure that land release standards, policies, and methodologies conform with the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) and should only clear mined areas where contamination was confirmed by evidence.
• The status of SEMA should be recognised in law and national resources budgeted annually to meet its operating costs.
• Somalia should finalise a new national mine action strategy.
• Somalia should elaborate a gender and diversity policy and associated work plan for the programme.
• Somalia should elaborate an environmental policy and associated work plan for the programme.

Click here to download the "Clearing the Mines 2025" report for Somalia.