1.4.2. Conflict-related displacement

Newly displaced. During the reference period of this report, April 2023 – March 2025, the UNHCR Protection and Return Monitoring Network (PRMN)309 reported that conflict and insecurity were the drivers for the displacement of about 600 000 people - out of about 2 788 000 newly displaced - notably from the following regions: Gedo, Benadir, Lower Juba, Nugaal, Togdheer.310 Figure 6 below offers an overview of the number of conflict/insecurity displaced people versus other drivers per administrative regions. For more detailed information on the regional level, please see section 2 Regional security situation and trends.

In the course of 2024 Somalia exhibited 553 000 new displacements, while they were 2 970 000 in 2023 overall, all causes considered. Conflict and insecurity were responsible for the displacement of 290 000 people in the course of 2024, and 653 000 in the course of 2023.311 In particular, conflict mostly related to escalating inter-clan fighting was the main driver of new internal displacements in 2024, with most people who were forced to flee their homes remaining within the same region.312 The districts most affected by conflict-related internal displacement were Luuq (Gedo), Diinsoor (Bay), Xarardheere (Muduq), Jamaame (Lower Juba), and Buhodle (Togdheer).313 For an overview of main clan conflicts/disputes across Somalia see section on Individuals involved in clan feuds/disputes in the EUAA COI Report Somalia: Country Focus (May 2025).

Overall IDP population. Based on UN OCHA data, at the end of 2024, there were in Somalia 3 812 registered IDP sites across the country, hosting an overall population of more than 4 million people. Of these, Mogadishu hosted 2 057 sites (1 091 in Daynile, and 966 in Kahda) with an overall population of more than 1 160 million people, and Baidoa district hosted another 649 sites with an overall population of more than 740 000 people.314 Figure 7 shows the regional distribution of IDPs and the most affected urban centres within the region.

According to the UNHCR CCCM cluster, the majority of IDP people in Somalia settle in informal sub-standard IDP sites in urban and peri-urban areas across the country.315 As of January 2022, 85 % of the IDPs sites were informal settlements on private land and about 74 % of them were in urban areas.316 Coordination and management of these informal settlements is largely informal,317 while living conditions are precarious and basic needs are not met, due to inconsistent service provision, barriers to or exclusion from accessing humanitarian assistance.318 In particular, in the urban areas, IDPs move into private IDP sites where they are exposed to tenure insecurity.319 Within this context local integration and IDP returns are limited.320 

Figure 6. Regional distribution of newly displaced individuals due to conflict/insecurity vs other drivers (drought, flood, others) – current location - in the period between April 2023 and March 2025, based on UNHCR PRMN data.321
 

Figure 7. Regional distribution of IDP population, including urban areas mostly affected within the region, as of 31 December 2024, based on UNOCHA CCCM data as analysed by the EUAA.322