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 refugee ID card is valid for one (1) year, while the asylum seeker ID card is valid for 3 months
Anyone who has been recognized as a Refugee or Asylum Seeker is entitled to free movement into any place within the country if he is not in designated places or a refugee camp.
Anyone who is recognized as a Refugee or Asylum Seeker may have accommodation or another designated place to reside.
Anyone who is recognized as a refugee has the same rights as a citizen when it comes to employment opportunities unless is not prohibited by other laws of the country.
Anyone who is recognized as a refugee can own immovable property.
He has the right to buy, sell or otherwise lawfully use his private property in accordance with this law and other laws of the country.
Everyone who has been recognized as a refugee or asylum seeker has the right to access justice and an independent judiciary.
During the decision-making period of the refugee application, every
person who is recognized as an asylum seeker has the right to be issued a document certifying that he has been recognized as an asylum seeker
1) Every person who has been recognized as a refugee has the right to be issued a refugee identification card
A refugee person can have their refugee status revoked if there are reasonable grounds to believe that such a person should not have been so recognized as having refugee status. Refugee status can be revoked if: (a) He has voluntarily re-availed himself of the protection of the country of his nationality; (b) It is known that the person has fraudulently misrepresented the facts he provided when he was granted refugee status; (c) He has acquired the nationality of another country.
A recognized refugee shall not be expelled except on the grounds of national security or public order. A person whose refugee status has been revoked can be removed from the country within 90 days. The execution of any expulsion order may, if the concerned refugee requests, be delayed for a reasonable period to enable such refugee to seek legal admission to another country.