The House of Representatives of the Republic of Somaliland has officially approved the National Diplomatic Missions Act, marking a significant institutional milestone for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The legislation follows an extended effort by the ministry to establish a unified legal framework governing Somaliland’s diplomatic missions and strengthen the institutional foundations of its foreign policy.
In August 2025, Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Abdirahman Dahir Aden presented the draft Diplomatic Missions Act to the House of Representatives, outlining the ministry’s work on the legislation and emphasizing its importance to the country’s diplomatic operations. He formally appealed to lawmakers to approve the proposed law.
Although Somaliland has maintained diplomatic and commercial missions across Africa, Europe, Asia and North America for decades, its foreign service had previously operated without a single parliamentary-approved law comprehensively defining the administrative and legal framework for those missions.
The newly approved legislation establishes a comprehensive legal framework governing the operation of Somaliland’s embassies, consulates, commercial offices and permanent missions abroad.
The Act also sets out procedures for the appointment of ambassadors, including eligibility requirements for candidates, as well as compliance provisions designed to align diplomatic appointments and operations with ministry policies and international diplomatic norms.
In addition, the law defines the organizational structures of Somaliland’s foreign missions, specifying the statutory roles, administrative classifications and legal protections applicable to diplomatic personnel.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the passage of the legislation as the resolution of a longstanding institutional gap.
“The passage of this law means the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has overcome a major structural challenge that has impacted diplomatic work throughout Somaliland’s existence,” the ministry said in an official statement.
The approval of the Act provides Somaliland’s foreign service with a formal legislative framework for managing its overseas missions and diplomatic personnel, bringing greater structure to the administration and execution of its foreign policy.