COI-Report-Somalia

EASO Country of Origin Information report — South and Central Somalia — Country overview — 119
Insecurity in the areas, such as the military campaign in early 2014, may hamper returns ( 1234 ). Furthermore, many
people have lost access to land or property in rural areas and therefore might not be able to support themselves ( 1235 ).
Availability of farmland appears as one of the main obstacles to return ( 1236 ). The return of formerly displaced persons
to areas previously occupied by Al‐Shabaab continues to cause disputes over land ownership ( 1237 ). The fact that
Al‐Shabaab is still active along roads and routes between cities under governmental control and in many parts of
rural South/Central Somalia constitutes another obstacle, as even those who are able to access land might be unable
to access relevant trading centres or markets ( 1238 ).
An international agency running a return program for IDPs in South/Central Somalia mentioned nonetheless that it
‘has not faced any problems except for the strong spying factor.’ ( 1239 )
5.5.3 (Assisted) Voluntary Return: Refugees
In 2013 alone, at least 30 000 ( 1240 ) people, but possibly more than 34 000, crossed over to Somalia, mainly from
Kenya and Ethiopia ( 1241 ). ‘Many refugees are preparing themselves for the possibility of some form of return.’ ( 1242 )
In the first three months of 2014, some 5 000 Somalis crossed those borders ( 1243 ). However, many of those crossings
are only seasonal or temporary ( 1244 ) ‘go and see missions’, as RMMS designates them ( 1245 ). Major crossing points
are Diff, Dhobley and Waldeyna, where mine‐risk education teams try to ensure that returnees are aware of the
dangers and threats posed by explosive devices ( 1246 ).
On 10 November 2013, a tripartite agreement on voluntary return was signed between Kenya, Somalia and UNHCR.
The parties agreed on a six‐month pilot project to assist voluntary returnees ( 1247 ). It is estimated that as a first step
some 10 000 Somali refugees will receive support to return to three pilot areas: Baidoa, Kismayo and Luuq ( 1248 ).
Logistic arrangements (way stations at the crossing point and at the district capital at areas of return) have been
( 1234 ) UNHCR, Somalia Fact Sheet, April 2014 (http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/1930_1397656486_unhcr‐briefing‐sheet‐april‐v1.pdf) accessed 6 May 2014,
p. 1; compare: AI (19.2.2014) S50
( 1235 ) Hammond, L., ‘History, overview, trends and issues in major Somali refugee displacements in the near region’, in: New Issues in Refugee Research, Research
Paper no. 268, UNHCR, 28 Februari 2014 (http://www.refworld.org/docid/53301a444.html) accessed 5 May 2014, p. 13.
( 1236 ) Hammond, L., ‘History, overview, trends and issues in major Somali refugee displacements in the near region’, in: New Issues in Refugee Research, Research
Paper no. 268, UNHCR, 28 Februari 2014 (http://www.refworld.org/docid/53301a444.html) accessed 5 May 2014, p. 15.
( 1237 ) US Department of State, Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 2013 - Somalia, 27 February 2014 (http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/
humanrightsreport/index.htmyear=2013&dlid=220158) accessed 2 June 2014.
( 1238 ) AI, No place like home: Returns and relocations of Somalia’s displaced, 19 February 2014 (http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AFR52/001/2014/
en/109361a7-4d78-493c-94ed-7d76d81faa6b/afr520012014en.pdf) accessed 6 May 2014, p. 50.
( 1239 ) An international agency in: Landinfo/Udlændingsstyrelsen, Update on security and protection issues in Mogadishu and South‐Central Somalia, March 2014
(http://landinfo.no/asset/2837/1/2837_1.pdf) accessed 26 May 2014, p. 63; see section ‘Security – Al‐Shabaab’.
( 1240 ) UN Security Council, Report of the Secretary‐General on Somalia (S/2013/709), 2 December 2013 (http://www.refworld.org/docid/52a058af4.html)
accessed 6 May 2014, p. 12; see also: UN OCHA, Kenya to Somalia: Cross‐Border Movement (as of 28 Feb 2014), 28 February 2014 (http://www.ecoi.net/
file_upload/1226_1394032442_ken‐som‐cross‐border‐movement-28-feb-2014.pdf) accessed 6 May 2014.
( 1241 ) RMMS, Mixed Migration in Horn of Africa and Yemen, Monthly Dashboard Map, February 2014 (http://www.regionalmms.org/fileadmin/content/rmms_
dashboard_map/February_2014_RMMS_Monthly_Map.pdf) accessed 12 May 2014.
( 1242 ) Hammond, L., ‘History, overview, trends and issues in major Somali refugee displacements in the near region’, in: New Issues in Refugee Research, Research
Paper no. 268, UNHCR, 28 Februari 2014 (http://www.refworld.org/docid/53301a444.html) accessed 5 May 2014, p. 9.
( 1243 ) UNHCR, Somalia Fact Sheet, April 2014 (http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/1930_1397656486_unhcr‐briefing‐sheet‐april‐v1.pdf) accessed 6 May 2014, p. 1.
( 1244 ) UN Security Council, Report of the Secretary‐General on Somalia (S/2013/709), 2 December 2013 (http://www.refworld.org/docid/52a058af4.html) accessed
6 May 2014, p. 12.
( 1245 ) RMMS (Regional Mixed Migration Secretariat), Mixed Migration in Horn of Africa and Yemen, Monthly Dashboard Map, February 2014 (http://www.
regionalmms.org/fileadmin/content/rmms_dashboard_map/February_2014_RMMS_Monthly_Map.pdf) accessed 12 May 2014.
( 1246 ) UN Security Council, Report of the Secretary‐General on Somalia (S/2013/709), 2 December 2013 (http://www.refworld.org/docid/52a058af4.html) accessed
6 May 2014, p. 9.
( 1247 ) UN Security Council, Report of the Secretary‐General on Somalia (S/2014/140), 3 March 2014 (http://www.refworld.org/docid/531ef31f4.html) accessed
19 May 2014, p. 12; see: Tripartite Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Kenya, the Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia and the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Governing the Voluntary Repatriation of Somali Refugees Living in Kenya, 2013, 10 November 2013 (http://
www.refworld.org/docid/5285e0294.html) accessed 15 July 2014.
( 1248 ) UN Security Council, Report of the Secretary‐General on Somalia (S/2014/140), 3 March 2014 (http://www.refworld.org/docid/531ef31f4.html) accessed
19 May 2014, p. 12.