COMMON ANALYSIS
Last update: October 2025
The analysis below is based on the following EUAA COI report: Country Focus 2025, 1.2., 1.2.1.b, 1.2.3., 1.4., 1.4.3., 2.1.3.(d), 2.1.3.(e) , 2.1.3.(f), 2.1.4.(a), 2.2.3.(d), 2.2.3.(e), 2.2.3.(f), 2.2.4.(a), 2.3.3.(d), 2.3.3.(e), 2.3.3.(f), 2.3.4.(a).; Country Guidance should not be referred to as a source of COI.
In addition to the general situation in the area of potential IPA, the assessment whether it is reasonable to settle in that part of the country should take into account the individual circumstances of the applicant. The individual considerations may include potential vulnerabilities and availability of coping mechanisms. A non-exhaustive list of relevant considerations is provided below:
Clan affiliation is one of the most important factors in Somali society. The applicant’s clan family and specific clan affiliation should be taken into account as members of minority clan families would face discrimination as well as social, political and economic marginalisation when relocating and assimilating into an area dominated by another clan. The existence, capacity and willingness of other support networks, such as family and/ or social network, to assist should be considered on a case-by-case basis. Family and personal connections are often a prerequisite for finding and securing employment. Minority groups and returnees who have been absent for several years may lack clan support. Large numbers of returnees who lack financial means end up in IDP camps where the living conditions are no different than for those internally displaced, thus with limited access to basic services.
Young age as well as elderly age could significantly limit the applicant’s access to means of subsistence such as through employment, making them depended on other providers. Children, in particular, are exposed to child recruitment and exploitation and the child’s best interest shall be a primary consideration which shall include, among others, their access to basic education. For example, access to education may be difficult for children belonging to minority clans.
Women and girls in Somalia may be subject to discriminatory restrictions and may need support of a male family member in order to access services, such as in relation to education, work and housing, and to exercise certain rights. Further difficulties have been reported for single women without a clan network as well as for IDPs. The applicant’s gender should therefore be taken into account when considering reasonableness in conjunction with their family status and available support.
The quality of and access to healthcare is strained across Somalia, making the health status of the applicant and any need for medical treatment an important consideration when assessing the reasonableness of IPA. Health status may also affect the ability to work and, for minors, their access to education. For persons with disabilities, access to basic subsistence would be further limited.
The professional background of an applicant, their level of education and available financial means should be taken into account when assessing the reasonableness of IPA. Uneducated persons are particularly affected by severe lack of access to the labour market in urban settings.
These factors would often intersect, leading to different conclusions on the reasonableness of IPA. In some cases, more than one element of vulnerability would indicate that IPA is not reasonable for the particular applicant (e.g. person with a disability without support network), while in other cases the relevant factors may balance each other (e.g. non-educated single male with strong clan or other support network).