Finland suspends dev cooperation with Somalia

Finland will suspend the implementation of Finland’s country programme for bilateral development cooperation with Somalia, said the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.

The ministry said that Finland's development cooperation is conditional on countries’ agreement to repatriate their own citizens at Finland’s request and their support for the international rules-based order.

Readmissions cooperation with Somalia, which is one of Finland’s partner countries in bilateral development cooperation, has not progressed as planned, said the ministry in a press release, adding that for this reason, the ministry will suspend the implementation of Finland’s country programme for bilateral development cooperation with Somalia.

“The suspension means that no new funding decisions concerning the country programme will be made until we see concrete progress in readmissions cooperation with Somalia,” said Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio.

The country programme will be gradually suspended so that the projects ongoing under the programme can be completed in accordance with the agreements.

The suspension, however, will not apply to humanitarian assistance, civil society organisations or private sector support.

The Government Report on International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation outlined that the implementation of a country programme can be continued if progress is made in creating effective and sustainable return solutions. Since 2025, EUR 8–9 million has been annually reserved for bilateral development cooperation between Finland and Somalia.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will continue to work closely with the Ministry of the Interior to promote cooperation on readmission.

In addition, the EU and Somalia are holding bilateral and regional discussions on managing migration.

The Government of Somalia has been willing to discuss readmissions cooperation with Finland, and this dialogue will continue.