Federal Republic of Somalia

The Embassy of Brazil in Mogadishu was established in February 1987, cumulatively with the Brazilian Mission in Nairobi, Kenya. The Permanent Mission of Somalia to the United Nations represents the country to the Brazilian government.

Progress in the Somali peace process since 2012 (approval of a provisional Constitution, formation of a new Parliament, and presidential election) has allowed for the gradual renewal of the country's international insertion, a context in which Brazil and Somalia have sought to strengthen ties. In 2013, Somalia appointed a special envoy to Brazil, Argentina, and Venezuela, residing in the United States. The Somali envoy has expressed the desire to explore possibilities for stimulating bilateral trade and requested support for cooperation projects in the textile industry, in investments in logistics, and in the sugar industry. At the multilateral level, the Brazilian government has underscored the importance of the international community remaining committed not only to fighting the terrorist group Al-Shabaab and piracy off the coast of Somalia, but also to consolidating peace and socioeconomic development in that country.

During the final phase of the Somali transition, Brazil participated in two meetings of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, as well as in the London (February 2012) and Istanbul (June 2012) Conferences on Somalia. On those occasions, Brazil defended a political solution to the conflict and the role of the Somali government and population in formulating and conducting development policies in their own country. The Brazilian government also contributed to the Somali transition process through significant humanitarian cooperation between 2010 and 2012 by donating 65 thousand tons of food to Somalia and $500,000 for activities of the World Food Program (WFP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), in that country and in the Horn of Africa region. Brazil also donated $900,000 via the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for activities in support of Somali refugees.

Bilateral trade exchange is modest and dominated by Brazilian exports, composed basically of chicken meat and cane sugar. According to sources, Brazil was the second exporter of sugar to Somalia in 2019, which amounted to $ 34.75 million, equivalent to 22.5% of the Somali market. 

Chronology of bilateral relations