Finland halts Development Aid to Somalia over Migration Agreement stalemate..

Finland has suspended its bilateral development cooperation programme with Somalia, citing insufficient progress in repatriation agreements for Somali nationals living in Finland without legal residency. The announcement was made Wednesday by Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio…

The suspension affects future funding decisions, freezing an annual allocation of €8–€9 million for Somalia’s bilateral development programme starting in 2025. However, ongoing projects will continue as planned, and humanitarian aid, support for non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and private-sector initiatives remain unaffected.

Finland’s decision mirrors its broader migration policy, which ties development aid to recipient countries’ cooperation in facilitating the return of their nationals living abroad without legal status. “States must naturally strive to ensure that all those illegally in their country are returned when that can be done safely,” Tavio added.

Finland’s development cooperation with Somalia has historically focused on state-building, crisis management, and enhancing women’s sexual and reproductive health rights. Between 2021 and 2024, Finland allocated €54 million to Somalia through its country strategy.

Somalia has expressed willingness to engage in dialogue over repatriation but has yet to meet Finland’s expectations. The two nations have long-standing ties, with Somalia being a key partner in Finland’s development cooperation initiatives, including crisis management and mediation efforts.

As of 2022, approximately 24,365 individuals of Somali descent lived in Finland, making it the country’s largest African-origin group. Among them, some lack legal residency, prompting Finland to push for repatriation agreements with Somalia. Finnish officials have not disclosed the exact number of Somali nationals affected by the current policy.