Somalia
India and Somalia relations are age old, with strong connect established by traders who sailed through the Indian Ocean to buy and sell goods in the Horn of Africa. The connection still continues with presence of Indian business community in Somalia. The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1960, a year after its independence. After the outbreak of civil war in 1991, the Indian Embassy in Mogadishu was closed. High Commission of India, Nairobi is concurrently accredited to Somalia.
Cooperation to tackle the challenge of COVID-19 Pandemic
- Government of India has supplied 840,000 Covishield Covid-19 vaccine doses under Covax scheme to fight against Covid-19.
Capacity Building & Other Exchanges
- In 2018-19, Somalia availed 24 slots under Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR); ITEC and India Africa Forum Summit (IAFS III) scholarship schemes. The allotted slots under ITEC for 2019-2020 was increased to 15 out of which 14 were utilized; 2 candidates could not travel due to Covid-19 situation in March 2020.
- Despite Covid-19 restrictions, India continued its assistance to Somalia through capacity building on virtual platform through e-ITEC programme. This has seen participation of 72 Somali candidates up to now.
- 17 Somalia students have been offered ICCR scholarship during AS 2021-22. In AS 2022-23, 15 ICCR and 8 ITEC scholarships have been awarded to Somali students.
- For the Academic Year 2023-24, 15 slots have been allocated under Africa Scholarship Scheme.
Development Cooperation (Grants/ LoCs/ Assistance)
- India handed over the consignment of essential medicines worth USD one million to Dr. Fawziya Abikar Nor, Minister of Health of Somalia in July 2018 in Mogadishu.
- At the request of the Government of Somalia, Government of India gifted 27 mini-buses to Somalia in February 2021.
- India provided USD 2 million to the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM). India has further contributed a sum of US$ 1 million to the United Nations Trust Fund in support of the African Union in Somalia (AMISOM) in 2012, 2017 and 2021.
- In September 2011, India announced a contribution of USD 8 million towards humanitarian assistance for countries in the Horn of Africa region (Somalia, Kenya and Djibouti) to be distributed through WFP.
- In 1992, India provided relief supplies (medicines, food) worth Rs. 20 lakh to Somalia. In 1985, Somalia was among the recipient countries of 100,000 tonnes of wheat offered by Government of India to countries in the region.
