Last Change:
06/02/2025
Somaliland Refugee Protection Law
Year: 2023
Type: Domestic law
Rights Category: Asylum, Education, Freedom of movement, Health, Housing, land & property, Liberty & security of person, Nationality & facilitated naturalization, Social protection, Work & Workplace rights, Family life, Documentation
Description
This law establishes the legal framework for the protection and management of refugees and asylum-seekers in Somaliland.
Selected provisions
The application for permission of a family Reunification shall
specifying the number of family members, their names and the family
relationship between the refugee and the persons to whom the
application relates
A person shall cease to be considered a refugee if: (a) He has voluntarily re-availed himself or herself of the protection of the country of origin or nationality; (b) He has voluntarily surrendered his or her refugee status; (c) Having lost his or her nationality, he has voluntarily re-acquired it; (d) He has acquired the nationality of the Republic of Somaliland in accordance with the Citizenship Act of the Republic of Somaliland; (e) The circumstances in connection with which he has been recognized as a refugee have ceased to exist.
4) The Republic of Somaliland may grant permission of refugee status under this Article to: -
a) Anyone in the family who is under the age 15.
b) Any dependant of a member of the family of a recognised refugee and will be is given the opportunity to go through the registration process.
Regulations made under this Act by the authority will prescribe the
procedures for applying for family reunification.
The Board's decisions are administrative decisions and the applicant can appeal to the High Court if he is not satisfied with the Board's decision within 30 days.
If a refugee does a business or engaged in other sources of income, he is obliged to pay the income tax due in accordance with the applicable Tax Laws of the country.
It is prohibited to discriminate against an asylum seeker based on his
nationality, ethnic identity, color, religion, ethnicity, and any
characteristic that may cause discrimination.
Every person who is in the country in the state of asylum-seeking shall have the right to remain in the country during the process until such a person has been recognized as a refugee.
Anyone who has been granted refugee status in accordance with Article 21 of this law has the right to live in the Republic of Somaliland for the period stipulated by the law.
Every recognized refugee and asylum seeker shall have access to available health services.