Following its admission as the 179th member state of the International Atomic Energy Agency in September 2024 reflecting a national commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear technology and the enhancement of safety and regulatory standards Somalia, for the first time, acceded on 5 March 2026 to the Agency’s safeguards agreement, together with its Additional Protocol pursuant to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
This accession, approved by the Council of Ministers on the same date, constitutes a formal act of executive authorization, thereby giving legal effect to Somalia’s assumption of binding obligations within the international nuclear non-proliferation and safeguards regime, while also advancing its objective of harnessing nuclear science and technology for sustainable development.
The agreement was submitted to the Council of Ministers by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Government of Somalia for approval, at a time when Somalia remained among only two African states not yet party to the Agency. Its adoption reflects a broader policy orientation towards re-engagement with international institutions and strengthened adherence to international legal frameworks.
From an institutional and legal perspective, accession requires the establishment and consolidation of domestic regulatory mechanisms capable of implementing safeguards obligations effectively. This includes inter-ministerial coordination, the development of legal and administrative frameworks, and the enhancement of national capacity for compliance, reporting, and oversight. In this regard, Somalia is integrated into a structured global governance system characterized by verification, monitoring, and accountability mechanisms administered by the IAEA.
The legal consequences of accession are both obligatory and facilitative. On the one hand, Somalia assumes responsibilities to enable inspections, maintain comprehensive records of nuclear-related materials, and ensure compliance with international safety and security standards. On the other hand, accession confers corresponding rights, including eligibility to participate in the IAEA’s technical cooperation programmes, which support the application of nuclear science and technology in areas such as healthcare, agriculture, water resource management, and environmental protection.
Accordingly, Somalia’s accession represents not only compliance with the international non-proliferation regime but also a strategic entry point into development-oriented cooperation frameworks, combining legal commitment with institutional and technological advancement.
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