Somalia
Diplomatic relations between Poland and Federal Republic of Somalia were established on 1962.
Political cooperation
Historical outline
The establishment of diplomatic relations between Poland and Somalia took place as a result of the announcement of a joint communiqué in the capitals of both countries on July 11, 1962
In terms of competences, Somalia remains under territorial competence of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Nairobi. On November 3, 2020, the first Polish ambassador in 35 years, Jacek Bazański, was accredited in Mogadishu. On the Somali side, the Somali embassy in Berlin is responsible for relations with Poland.
In 2016 and 2017, during the African Union summits in Addis Ababa, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, Joanna Wronecka, met twice with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia, Abdisalam Omer. In July 2018, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrzej Papierz participated in the Somalia Partnership Forum organized in Brussels (with the participation of President Mohamed A. Mohamed).
The decision of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to award the pro Dignitate Humana award in 2020 to the Somali organization Elman Peace and Human Rights Center, which contributed to the fight against brutal extremism and supporting former fighters of terrorist organizations in returning to their communities, additionally consistent with the priorities of the Republic of Poland on international forums (promoting freedom of religion and belief), contributed to the revival of bilateral relations. In December 2023, the Somali ambassador to Belgium was received in the Department of Africa and the Middle East of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prospects for revitalizing mutual relations were discussed. The meeting of the representative of the Somali embassy in Paris and the deputy ambassador of the Republic of Poland in March 2024 was of a similar nature.
Economic cooperation
The economy of Somalia, instability of the administrative and institutional structure of the country, difficult climate conditions, unstable security and dependence on external aid, has been among the least developed in Africa. It is dominated by the grey zone , based primarily on cattle breeding and – in the absence of a banking system – the activities of enterprises specialized in money transfers and telecommunication services. There are numerous mineral resources, including uranium, iron, manganese, tin, gypsum and petroleum in Somalia, however the exploitation of deposits is prevented by the lack of funds, insufficiently developed roads and water and sanitary infrastructure, as well as internal problems and insecurity. The main export goods of Somalia are live animals, pelts and fish, while sugar, sorghum, maize and machinery are imported. Forecasts of the International Monetary Fund assume an economic growth of 4% in 2024 (compared to 3,1% in 2023), to which mainly the construction, telecommunications and financial services sectors contribute.
According to data from the Central Statistical Office (GUS), Polish-Somali foreign trade is negligible: in 2022, Poland's exports to Somalia amounted to USD 4.9 million, while imports from Somalia to Poland amounted to USD 1.6 million.
Cultural and scientific cooperation
Prof. Bogumił Witalis Andrzejewski (a world authority in the field of languages and oral literature of peoples living in the Horn of Africa) made a huge contribution to the development and building of Somali culture and national literature. The professor, called by Somalis the "Father of Somali Culture and Literature", played a leading role in creating the Somali language alphabet based on Latin transcription. The work began in 1949 and culminated in the recognition of the Somali magazine as national in 1972. The professor's name is known throughout Somalia. In 1982, he received the order of the Somali government in Mogadishu - the Star of Somalia. There is an interest in Somalis taking up studies in Poland on a paid basis. There is no scientific cooperation. There are also no Polish students in Somalia.
Recognition of academic qualifications
Due to the impossibility to obtain the specimen of signatures and stamps of the authorized officials, the Embassy of Poland in Nairobi does not legalize academic documents from Somalia.