HELSINKI — Finland has suspended its development aid to Somalia until the Somali government agrees to accept more deportees, according to Finnish Minister for Development, Ville Tavio.
Tavio stated that aid would only resume after “concrete progress” on the repatriation of Somali nationals.
Finland froze its Somalia Country Programme in November 2024, halting new development projects but allowing ongoing initiatives to be completed.
The suspension does not affect humanitarian aid, grants to NGOs, or private sector support. The Finnish Foreign Ministry had planned to allocate between 8 and 9 million euros annually to Somalia, but no alternative package has been announced.
Tavio suggested that at least 100 Somali nationals must be accepted back by Somalia before development assistance is reinstated, though he declined to comment further on the specific number through his assistant.
The issue remains politically sensitive in Somalia, where officials point to security concerns and resistance to taking back citizens with criminal convictions abroad.
Repatriations to Somalia were largely paused for nearly three years starting in 2021 and only resumed late last year. In 2025, Finnish authorities have returned 11 Somali nationals, three of whom were voluntary.
The Finnish National Police Board estimates that 100 to 200 Somali citizens may still be awaiting deportation.
Finland’s Interior Minister, Mari Rantanen, visited Mogadishu in January to discuss repatriation arrangements with Somali officials, and cooperation is reportedly progressing.
To support these efforts, Finland’s Foreign Ministry plans to launch a short-term project worth several hundred thousand euros to bolster operations at Somalia’s immigration authority.
Finland’s move comes amid tougher stances on Somali migrants across Europe, with countries like Germany and Sweden ramping up deportations of Somali nationals convicted of serious crimes.
Other European states are also tightening border controls, with Ireland and France enhancing measures against irregular migration.
