Former officials of the Transitional Federal Government, Federal Government of Somalia, or regional administrations face targeted Al-Shabaab risk on return. Those with security, judicial, or political profiles that would mark them as opponents of Al-Shabaab ideology are at particular risk, regardless of MOJ's general finding that ordinary Mogadishu civilians face no real risk from Al-Shabaab forced recruitment.
Expert witnesses assess the specific role held, its visibility to Al-Shabaab, whether the appellant worked in Al-Shabaab controlled areas, and whether there is evidence of specific targeting beyond the general risk to government employees. Lower-level government employees present a more nuanced risk profile requiring case-specific analysis.
The July 2025 CPIN confirms state protection is unavailable against Al-Shabaab targeting of government-associated individuals. Al-Shabaab's 2025-2026 offensive has expanded areas where former officials can be identified and targeted, making internal relocation analysis critical for this profile.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are former Somali government officials at particular risk?
Former officials of the Transitional Federal Government, Federal Government of Somalia, or regional administrations face targeted Al-Shabaab risk, particularly those with security, judicial, or political profiles that would mark them as opponents of Al-Shabaab ideology. Expert witnesses assess the specific role held, its visibility to Al-Shabaab, and the risk on return given current conditions.
What about lower-level government employees?
Lower-level government employees present a more nuanced risk profile. The expert assesses whether the specific role would have been visible to Al-Shabaab, whether the employee worked in Al-Shabaab controlled areas, and whether there is evidence of specific targeting beyond the general risk to government employees.