Monday September 8, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somaliland lawmakers visiting Finland have urged Helsinki to redirect development aid directly to Somaliland after Finland suspended funding to Somalia over refugee repatriations and concerns of mismanagement.
Deputy Speaker of Somaliland’s House of Representatives Ali Hamud Jibril, who led the delegation, said they requested that Somaliland receive the future assistance Finland had previously allocated to Somalia. He noted Finland provided €54 million over the past four years, but Somaliland saw little of it.
“For the past four years, Somalia has received millions, yet Somaliland has benefited very little,” Hamud told BBC Somali. “Now we are at the table, and Finland is giving our request serious consideration.”
Finland halted its program after Mogadishu refused to accept Somali refugees that Helsinki sought to repatriate. The freeze also followed allegations that Somali authorities mishandled donor funds and failed to complete projects, concerns echoed by Finnish officials.
Hamud argued Somaliland could deliver stronger results. “We explained that our projects begin and end on schedule,” he said. “Finland expressed frustration with Somalia’s handling of aid and said more progress could have been made if Somaliland had been the recipient.”
The delegation, which included lawmakers Hussein Adan Abdi, Barkhad Jama Batuun and Hassan Ahmed Elmi, met with Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and with Finnish parliamentarians who support Somaliland’s cause.
Finland has previously confirmed that Somalia’s refusal to cooperate on refugee returns was a key factor in the aid freeze. The Somaliland delegation said they are not seeking to accept refugees and did not raise the matter in Helsinki.