For more detailed database on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters.

Calamities and Seasonal Affects

For information on Somalia Climate additional details, please see the following document: Climate in Somalia

Pre-positioning of food quantities is generally the order of the day, however in view of insecurity in the country large stocking levels are not advisable. Stocking levels vary although 2 to 3 months is generally kept in storage although this is also dependent of commodity availability. The main commodities kept in stock are: sorghum, corn soya blend (CSB), pulses, plumpy nut and -sup, rice, sugar and vegetable oil. The rainy season has a minor effect, which is mostly short term due to low annual rainfall.

Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response

Government

A National Disaster Management Authorities are responsible for developing and maintaining a strategic and legal framework on disaster management and emergency response. These are:

•  Somali Disaster Management Agency (DMA) in Mogadishu.

The Somali Disaster Management Agency (SDMA) is the national emergency management agency of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
On May 30, 2013, the Federal Government of Somalia announced that the Cabinet had approved draft legislation on a new Somali Disaster Management Agency (SDMA), which had originally been proposed by the Ministry of Interior. According to the Prime Minister's Media Office, the SDMA will lead and coordinate the government's response to various natural disasters. It is part of a broader effort by the federal authorities to re-establish national institutions. The Federal Parliament is now expected to deliberate on the proposed bill for endorsement after any amendments.

• National Environment Preparedness and Management Authority (NERAD) in Somaliland.

NERAD is an autonomous public institution of the Government of Somaliland, empowered by legislation as the official lead government institution with respect to disaster management and coordination in Somaliland.

NERAD Website

• Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Agency (HADMA) in Puntland.

The agencies may have limited capacity in early warning and response and rely mostly on external support from the international community.

For information on Somalia Government contact details, please see the following link: 

4.1 Somalia Government Contact List

Humanitarian Community

For information on Somalia Humanitarian contact details, please see the following link: 

4.2 Somalia Humanitarian Agency Contact List

For information on Somalia Government contact details, please see the following links: 

4.1 Somalia Government Contact List

http://www.somaligovernment.org/contact.html

Somalia has not had a functioning central government since 1991. The election of the first president in 20 years leads to a new government and is the end of the roadmap for a beginning of a new prosperous Somalia. The federal government of Somalia has fully confirmed the existence of a quality control agent based in Mogadishu’s seaport and airport for the first time since 1991. Foreign firms will be responsible for checking and controlling food and other imported goods from abroad entering the country.

In Somaliland and Puntland the authorities are independently developing their institutions and communities. Somaliland has a National Development Plan (2012-2016) with economic, infrastructure, governance, social and environmental elements. Puntland is preparing its next five year plan on the basis of a regional development plan. The authorities in central Somalia and the border areas are generally under resourced and therefore relevant institutions are not yet in place.

Somaliland declared its independence from the greater Somalia in May 1991. The local government maintains informal ties with foreign governments. Neighbouring countries including Ethiopia, Djibouti and Yemen maintain trade relations. Ethiopia has a trade office in the region. As a self-declared country, there is no regional trade organization through which Somaliland maintains its trade. All remain informal.

The Somaliland Ministry of Finance is empowered for tax revenue, while Somaliland Quality Control Commission (SQCC) and Health Department for quality assurance. Pre-shipment inspection is usually done in two ways:

• Documentation must pass through the Ministries of Planning and Finance for checking and verification. Then it finally issues a Customs Clearance document.

• Upon arrival of the consignments to entry points (borders or port) the Health Department and SQCC conducts cargo inspection and verification against the documentation and quality before cargo is cleared for importation.

Civil Aviation Authority

The Somalia Civil Aviation Authority (SOMCAA) is the national civil aviation authority of Somalia. Based in the capital Mogadishu, it is under the aegis of the federal Ministry of Air and Land Transport. After a long period of management by the Civil Aviation Caretaker Authority for Somalia (CACAS), SOMCAA reassumed control of Somalia's airspace at the end of 2013.

Wikipedia Information on Somalia Civil Aviation Authority

Revenue Generation and Administration

Somalia faces challenges in rebuilding the tax system; the government is committed to implement a robust revenue mobilization strategy that will incorporate strong transparency and accountability. After 20 years of civil conflict the Inland Revenue Department has been seriously weakened and plagued with severe operational challenges. There are challenges in the tax collection process due to the reasons that tax administrators have limited knowledge of tax laws and collection procedures and this weakens the tax control environment.

Customs

The Somalia Customs tariff is based on the Customs Cooperation Council nomenclature for imports classification. Duties range between 5% and 100% for items not eligible for preferential treatment. Customs duties collected at the Mogadishu port and the Mogadishu International airport is the government’s main source of revenue, averaging about $6.5 million per month in mid-2013. The basic tariff rates are unit based per 50 kg bag, per carton or per litre, with rates for only about 150 categories of goods. Two surcharges are imposed on the unit based duties; a 5% sales tax and 2% stamp duty. Port fees that are also collected are retained by the Port management for running costs.

Media

Media of Somalia includes various radio, television, print and internet outlets. The federal government operates two official radio and TV networks, which exist alongside a number of private and foreign stations. Print media in the country is progressively giving way to news radio stations and online portals, as internet connectivity and access increases. In February 2013, the Ministry of Information, Posts and Telecommunication also launched a broad-based consultative process for the reformation of media legislation.

Wikipedia Information on Somalia Media

Tourism

Tourism in Somalia is regulated by the Federal Government of Somalia's Ministry of Tourism. The industry was traditionally noted for its numerous historical sites, beaches, waterfalls, mountain ranges and national parks. After the start of the civil war in the early 1990s, the Tourism Ministry shut down operations. It was later re-established in the 2000s, and once again oversees the national tourist industry. The Mogadishu-based Somali Tourism Association (SOMTA) also provides on-the-ground consulting services. Headquartered in Mogadishu, the Somali Tourism Association (SOMTA) also provides consultancy services from within the country on the national tourist industry. Visas and stay permits are now mandatory for all foreign nationals. As of April 2013, the re-established Somali Immigration Department requires all foreigners to register at its offices in the capital.

Wikipedia Information on Somalia Tourism

Information and Communication Technology

Somalia was one of the only three African countries along with Sudan and Eritrea that missed the December 2012 deadline, set by the African Union in 2007 to connect all African capitals by fibre optic cable. Internet usage reaches only 3% of the population.

Establishment of Regulatory, Institutional and Legal Framework

The above establishment is expected to start soon. Somalia federal Government signed the concession agreement with Albyrak Company which is now operating and investing the port. The project is expected to complete within one year. WFP Somalia is financing the project. The objective of the project is the design an adequate institutional and legal framework, taking account of the proper reallocation of operating, policy and regulatory functions; the establishment and strengthening of a separate regulatory body; and the establishment of adequate environmental safeguards and controls.

Based on the analysis of existing legislation (such as the Port Authority Act, Competition and Anti-Monopoly legislation, and relevant environmental legislation) and their adequacy for the needs of the reformed sector on the basis of generally accepted principles, any necessary amendments or new laws will be proposed, including, if needed, the legal drafting of bylaws and regulations, (rules for market functioning, rules for regulatory regime, rules for tariff settings, environmental bylaws and regulations, etc. It will also include assistance in the establishment of the new regulatory body.

Finally, it will include the design and implementation of a training program for the regulator(s) and the technical staff of the regulatory body. 

Somalia Sanctions

Individual or entities operating in Somalia should be aware of the various UN, EU and USA sanctions on Somalia.

Wikipedia Information on Somalia Sanctions

In 1960 Somalia was declared independent and the Government established a customs law for all the UN agencies and other emergency and humanitarian organizations requiring humanitarian cargo to be exempted from taxes. The Federal Government continues to observe and follow that law, which is article No 14.
The Government Institution that handles tax exemption is the Customs Department of the Ministry of Finance. Without the clearance of this department, no imports or exports are permitted, as it is the sole agency that deals with the customs for both the Sea Ports and Airports.
Normally the Customs department operates under a national law and is authorized to examine the cargo in order to ascertain actual description, specification volume or quantity, so that the value and the rate of duty may be correctly determined and applied.
However, as a result of the civil war from 1991, Somalia has to date remained without a centralized Government. The instability led to the formation of two internationally unrecognized semi-autonomous Governments of Somaliland and Puntland, which opted to independently develop their institutions and communities. This has also resulted to the existence of minor differences in Customs Procedures in the Sea Ports and Airports as follows:

Customs Information – Somaliland

Customs matters in Somaliland are under the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Resettlement, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (MRRR) and Planning facilitate duty exemption. There are no specific regulations that are really properly set up. All goods except duty exempt goods pay dutiable values, which vary in taxable value. Goods are usually calculated by adding together various government duties and include all other taxes. All perishable goods are 18.7598% on landed values, luxury items 100%, agricultural materials are 12.283%. These lump sum taxes are made up of sales tax, local government tax, service charge and stamp duty respectively.

Duties and Tax Exemption

Humanitarian aid is imported duty and tax-free as long as the proper government requirements have been met. It may be possible to obtain a ‘blanket clearance’, for which customs clearance is processed per shipment and allows the right to import, clear the cargo from the port and store it.

Customs working hours are from 0600 hours to 1800 hours local time both at the borders and elsewhere in Somaliland.

For contact information regarding government custom authorities, please follow the link below: 

4.1 Somalia Government Contact List

Emergency Response

There are no specific rules and procedures in place for emergency operations. However, in the case of large-scale emergencies procedures can be discussed with the Somaliland authority to lift the regulations to allow for more expedient operations. Formerly, the Somalia Government used to exceptionally do away with the existing regulations for a limited period of time. The self-declared Somaliland Government has not signed any agreements or conventions as a country but is supportive to UN and other humanitarian Organizations.   

Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response)

[Note: This section should contain information on the usual duties & taxes exemption regime during non-emergency times when there is no declared state of emergency and no streamlined process (e.g. regular importations/development/etc.).] 

During periods of non-emergency and when a state of emergency is no longer declared by the authorities or the imported items are not meant for emergency programmes, duties and tax exemptions are obtained through the normal Customs Clearance processing when the required documents are presented.
Humanitarian organizations that are not registered with the country and when they first arrive in the country, they inform the respective authority by presenting their intended operational plan. They must also submit an annual budget plan as well as an annual report for the past year and so long as an organization is in the country for humanitarian operations, it will qualify for tax exemption.

Exemption Certificate Application Procedure

Exemption Certificate Document Requirements

The tax exemption processes does not require original documents and therefore a copy of the necessary documents is sufficient. It is also important to note that some documents as mentioned below require originals when collecting or receiving the cargo. UN and NGOs follow similar documentation process.
In case there are issues and/or complications additional documents including fumigation certificate, Phytosanitary Certificates, Certificates of Origin, donation etc. may be required.

Customs Clearance

General Information 

MOGADISHU

Documentation process is as follows:

Humanitarian Vessel

• Request letter for the tax Exemption
• Copy of the Original Bill of Lading
• Packing List
• Purchase order
• Invoices of the document (Commercial/Non Commercial invoices)
• Certificate of Origin
• Delivery Order

Commercial Vessels.

• Notice to the port authority
• BoL and manifest
• Payment per bag
• Discharge commences.

Customs Clearance Document Requirements

Listed below are the documents required for Customs Clearance. Copies of the documents are sufficient for custom processing, but original documents are required by the shipping line or Master when collecting the cleared cargoes. UN and NGOs follow similar documentation process. 

Customs Information – Puntland

Documentation processing is as follows.

Before vessel arrival

• WFP prepares a tax exemption request letter for both food and non-food items coming from outside Puntland State of Somalia, and submits to the attention of the Minister of Interior of PL as the first level.
• MoI prepares another letter based on the request received from WFP and forwards to the Minister of Finance of PL.
• MoF issues a Granted Tax Exempted Letter to WFP
• WFP receives the Tax Exempted Letter and hands-over to the contracted clearing and forwarding agents/ Stevedore Companies.

Humanitarian Vessel

Below Documents are required to establish the Customs Clearance Request process;

• Request letter for the tax Exemption
• Non-negotiable Cargo Receipt (NNCR) or B/L and cargo manifest for eventual customs clearance stowage/cargo plan and Notice of Readiness tendered upon arrival/berthing
• Copy of the Original Bill of Lading
• Packing List
• Purchase order
• Invoices of the document (Commercial/Non Commercial invoices)
• Certificate of Origin
• Delivery Order

During Discharge

• Daily discharge progress report of shipment discharged
• Daily superintendent report

After Discharge

• Final vessel discharge report
• Superintendent final report