Somalia names climate change one of its biggest security threats

UNDP Somalia
4 min readSep 12, 2024

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Mogadishu, 9 September 2024 — Faced with ever increasing climate-related risks, Somalia is enhancing its national security strategy to address climate change as one of the biggest security threats to its peace and prosperity.

Based on assessments of the situations over the last few years, top leaders and experts in Somalia, who gathered for a landmark conference on security and climate in Mogadishu, reached a conclusion that the country’s national security must incorporate climate change risks, such as droughts, floods, and resource scarcity, into the broader scope of national security, its strategies and action plans. Effective federal, state and local-level security strategies need to consider environmental challenges that drive conflict and displacement.

“In Somalia, the impact of climate change is undeniable — almost every Somali is feeling its effects. Resource shortages have been fueling clan conflicts, and climate change is now a recognized security threat. If we don’t act, we risk losing much more than just livestock. We must tackle this threat like any other enemy,” said H.E. Salah Ahmed Jama, Deputy Prime Minister, at Somalia’s first-ever Conference on Security and Climate Change” organized in Mogadishu by the Office of National Security with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) funded by the Somalia Joint Fund.

According to UNDP’s recent assessment, over 74% of the conflicts recorded since 2022 were amplified or caused by climate related issues, including droughts, water scarcity and depleting grasslands.

The conference called for increased international cooperation and support in strengthening capacity within security institutions to address climate-induced security risks and fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships among the government, private sector, and international partners to share information and best practices, design joint programmes and mobilize resources, including climate finance.

The discussion also stressed the need for engaging communities in the development of local security responses to resource-based conflicts and displacement to enhance resilience at the grassroots level.

National Security Advisor Hussein Sheikh Ali highlighted Somalia’s unique vulnerabilities to climate change and underscored the critical role the security sector must play in mitigating these growing threats to national stability. Minister Almakhzoumi emphasized the urgent need for enhanced coordination among all relevant ministries and government institutions, including those at the Federal Member State level, to integrate climate risks into both national and sub-national security frameworks.

UNDP’s Deputy Resident Representative Dr. Christopher Laker assured UNDP Somalia’s commitment to continue helping the country tackle its climate and security challenges and advance resilience. “Our effort focuses on enhancing the resilience of communities, particularly those most at risk, by promoting sustainable green livelihoods, improving natural resource management, and supporting disaster risk reduction efforts,” he said.

The conference delved into the intricate linkages between climate change and security through a series of comprehensive panel discussions. Topics included the security sector’s role in addressing climate-related risks, the importance of forging effective partnerships, and the need for innovative, collaborative approaches. A key focus was placed on practical strategies for incorporating climate risks into local security planning, with an emphasis on community engagement and capacity building.

The event concluded with a strong call to action, emphasizing the necessity of establishing coordination mechanisms between the Ministries of Environment and Security Institutions at both the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Federal Member State (FMS) levels. These mechanisms are vital for integrating security considerations into climate adaptation plans and enhancing conflict prevention strategies. Moreover, the security sector must embed climate risk assessments into its strategic planning and clearly define the mandates of each institution involved in combating the adverse effects of climate change.

Prominent attendees included H.E. Hussein Sheikh Ali, National Security Advisor, H.E. Ambassador Khadija Almakhzoumi, Minister of Environment & Climate Change; H.E. Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail, Minister of Internal Security; George Conway, Deputy Special Envoy of the Secretary-General; African Union Special Representative for Somalia, Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef, along with ministers and senior officials from the Federal Member States, United Nations officials, international organizations, climate experts, civil society and security professionals.

The conference closed with a renewed and united commitment to tackling the dual challenges of climate change and security in Somalia, setting a foundation for more resilient and sustainable national security strategies.

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UNDP Somalia

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works to achieve the eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion.