Relationship dossier
Iran
Somalia
Relationship assessment
Humanitarian assistance and diplomatic ties were overshadowed by Somalia's 2016 break with Iran
Iran toward Somalia
-20Iran provided humanitarian assistance to Somalia. Somalia later accused Iran of interference and recruiting Somali youth, allegations Tehran rejected; the scope of Iran's conduct and any subsequent bilateral cooperation is unclear.
Somalia toward Iran
-35Somalia severed diplomatic relations with Iran in 2016, citing alleged Iranian interference and recruitment of Somali youth. This was a substantial adverse government action; the status of subsequent relations is unclear.
Overall relationship
-25Humanitarian assistance provided a cooperative element, but Somalia's 2016 severance of diplomatic relations and its allegations of Iranian interference marked a significant deterioration. The extent of any later repair is unclear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Iran and Somalia have had diplomatic relations and Iran provided humanitarian assistance to Somalia, but ties deteriorated sharply after Somalia accused Iran of interference and recruiting Somali youth. Somalia severed diplomatic relations with Iran in 2016. The extent of any subsequent repair or ongoing government cooperation is unclear.
Areas of tension
- Somalia's allegations that Iran interfered in Somali affairs and recruited Somali youth
Key developments
Somalia severed diplomatic relations with Iran after accusing it of interference in Somali affairs and recruitment of Somali youth.
Major uncertainties
- The scope of Iranian humanitarian assistance and other bilateral cooperation is unclear.
- The extent of any subsequent restoration of diplomatic ties or government cooperation is unclear.
- The circumstances and evidence behind Somalia's allegations of Iranian interference remain contested.