Somalia is one of the most legally complex asylum jurisdictions in the UK system. Multiple layers of country guidance (MOJ [2014], OA [2022], AMM [2011]), updated CPINs, and rapidly evolving security conditions make current expert knowledge essential for both solicitors and expert witnesses.
Current Somalia CPINs
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| CPIN | Date | Key Issue |
|---|---|---|
| Mogadishu: Al-Shabaab & Security | July 2025 | State willing but unable to protect |
| Humanitarian Situation in Mogadishu | July 2025 | Overcrowding, IDPs, access to services |
| Women Fearing GBV | Updated | FGM, forced marriage, domestic violence |
| EUAA Country Guidance | October 2025 | Actors of protection chapter updated |
Country Guidance Cases
MOJ and Others [2014] UKUT 00442
Leading country guidance for Mogadishu return. Diaspora/clan support test.
OA and Others [2022] UKUT 00033
Updated country guidance on return to Somalia.
AMM and Others [2011] UKUT 445
FGM as persecution in Somalia. Humanitarian crisis and returnees.
For a detailed analysis of MOJ [2014], see our MOJ country guidance pillar page.
July 2025 Mogadishu Security CPIN
The July 2025 CPIN on Mogadishu: Al-Shabaab and Security Situation confirms that the Federal Government of Somalia is willing but unable to provide effective protection from Al-Shabaab. Car bomb attacks and assassinations remain common. This CPIN is central to MOJ framework analysis and Al-Shabaab targeting claims.
EUAA Country Guidance October 2025
The EUAA updated its Country Guidance on Somalia in October 2025, revising the actors of protection chapter. UK tribunals may consider EUAA guidance alongside Home Office CPINs, particularly on state protection availability and internal relocation viability.
How Expert Reports Relate to CPINs
Expert witnesses do not simply reproduce CPIN content. The expert's role is to provide independent, objective analysis of whether the appellant's specific profile creates a real risk, applying current field research and source citations beyond the CPIN. Where the CPIN supports the appellant, the expert confirms and applies it to the individual profile. Where it does not, the expert challenges CPIN findings with verifiable evidence.
Legal Aid and Expert Reports
Most Somalia expert reports in UK asylum proceedings are Legal Aid funded. Scottish solicitors obtain prior approval from the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) before instructing country experts for tribunal hearings, including those listed in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
In Scotland, legal aid for asylum and immigration tribunal work is administered by the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB). Scottish solicitors must obtain SLAB prior approval of reasonable and necessary expert witness fees before country expert work begins. SLAB assesses disbursements under the Civil Legal Aid (Scotland) Regulations 2011 and related guidance, separately from the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) in England and Wales.
In England and Wales, Legal Aid Agency (LAA) prior authority is required for most expert witness disbursements in asylum proceedings, unless a valid exception applies. Solicitors should confirm funding before issuing a letter of instruction.
See our how to instruct guide for SLAB and LAA prior approval steps.
All Somali Asylum Profiles
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a CPIN in UK asylum law?
A Country Policy Information Note (CPIN) is a Home Office document setting out the UK government's position on country conditions for asylum decision-making. CPINs are not binding on immigration tribunals but carry significant weight. Somalia has multiple updated CPINs in 2025 covering Mogadishu security, humanitarian conditions, and gender-based violence.
Which Somalia CPINs are current in 2025-2026?
Key current CPINs include Mogadishu: Al-Shabaab and Security Situation (July 2025), Humanitarian Situation in Mogadishu (July 2025), Women Fearing GBV (updated), and EUAA Country Guidance Somalia (October 2025, actors of protection chapter updated).
Can expert evidence challenge Home Office CPIN findings on Somalia?
Yes. Expert witnesses provide independent analysis beyond CPIN reproduction. Where the CPIN does not reflect the appellant's profile, the expert may challenge findings with field research, UN reports, ACLED data, and profile-specific evidence on clan vulnerability, Al-Shabaab risk, and MOJ framework application.