Somalia

The U.S. Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to Somalia. Since the collapse of the central government in 1991, Somalia has been subject to widespread violence and instability. In 2012 the Transitional Federal Government was succeeded by a new federal government. In January 2013, the United States officially recognized the Somali government for the first time since 1991. However, the U.S. government does not maintain a diplomatic presence in Somalia at this time. Regional administrations, like the semi-autonomous state of Puntland and the self-declared “independent” region of Somaliland, have evolved in parts of the country. In August 2013, the federal government and Juba administration reached an agreement, which established the Interim Juba Administration in southern Somalia. Somalia's infrastructure and economy were seriously damaged by the civil war and its aftermath, but the private sector is trying to reemerge and has been boosted by an influx of diaspora returning to Somalia since the end of the transitional period of governance.

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), with the assistance of Somali security forces, have liberated the capital city of Mogadishu and other key cities in southern and central Somalia from the control of al-Shabaab, a radical Islamist movement and designated foreign terrorist organization affiliated with al-Qa’ida, but the central government’s reach and ability to provide services remains limited. Al-Shabaab still maintains control of towns and villages in Somalia’s countryside and retains the capability to conduct terrorist attacks throughout Somalia and in neighboring countries. While al-Shabaab has lost ground in southern and central Somalia, it remains capable of waging terrorist acts and asymmetric warfare. Criminal groups conduct kidnapping for ransom and piracy, particularly in the regions of Galmuduug and Puntland, although the number of incidents have decreased with the introduction of land and sea-based initiatives to counter piracy. Inter- and intra-clan violence also frequently occurs throughout the country.

Read the Department of State Fact Sheet on Somalia for additional information on U.S. – Somalia relations.