Travel Insurance for Somalia

Why Choose Us?

With the rapid rise and spread of terrorist activity over recent years, civil unrest, quickly evolving conflicts along with fragile political and environmental situations worldwide – even the most experienced travellers can quickly find themselves in challenging situations that can expose themselves to dangerous circumstances and unexpected accidents, illnesses and medical emergencies.

Our policies has been designed in close consultation between leading international travel and medical insurance experts and professionals operating at the frontline in the field of worldwide travel risk management, safety and personal security in fragile environments.

Flexibility, Choice and Strength of Security

We have designed our policies to offer you the flexibility and choice of covers you need when traveling abroad, all backed by the financial security and strength of proven service that underpins the product when you may need it most.

*Maximum trip duration to the USA is 89 days. Maximum duration for leisure trips is 31 days.

Coverage specially designed and included for:

Travel advice for Somalia

Source: Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to Somalia, including Somaliland except for the cities of Hargeisa and Berbera to which the FCO advise against all but essential travel. Any British nationals in areas of Somalia to which the FCO advise against all travel should leave. Any British nationals in Hargeisa or Berbera who are not on essential travel should leave.

There is a high threat from terrorism, including kidnapping, throughout Somalia, including Somaliland. Terrorist groups have made threats against westerners and those working for western organisations. There is a constant threat of terrorist attack in Mogadishu and terrorists continue to plan attacks against westerners in the rest of Somalia including Somaliland.

Terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate, including in crowded places, high-profile events, events involving government officials and in places visited by foreigners.

There is a high threat of maritime terrorism in the territorial and international waters off Somalia and piracy remains a significant threat in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.

All areas across Somalia are suffering food shortages resulting in the displacement of thousands of Somali people.

The FCO is unable to provide consular assistance in Somalia.

Take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you travel.

Safety and security

Crime

There is a dangerous level of criminal activity by armed militia throughout Somalia. There have been murders, armed robbery and a number of incidents of kidnapping. There are regular outbreaks of inter-clan violence throughout Somalia.

Local travel

British government officials serving in Somalia live and work under strict security rules. All British officials live in secure, guarded accommodation and travel with close protection teams at all times.

Humanitarian needs are great in Somalia, with over 3 million people in need of assistance. Displaced people living in settlements and other vulnerable groups will remain ‘food insecure’.

The displacement and overpopulated refugee camps may lead to a significant increase in disease, increased risk of crime over food security and a heightened security threat to foreigners.

There is tension on the Somaliland/Puntland border in the Sool and Sanaag regions.

Sea travel

There is a high threat of maritime terrorism in the territorial waters and international waters off Somalia. While there have been no successful piracy attacks since May 2012 off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden, the threat of piracy related activity and armed robbery in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean remains significant. Reports of attacks on local fishing dhows in the area around the Gulf of Aden and Horn of Africa continue. The combined threat assessment of the international Naval Counter Piracy Forces remains that all sailing yachts under their own passage should remain out of the designated High Risk Area or face the risk of being hijacked and held hostage for ransom.

Terrorism

There is a high threat to western, including British, interests from terrorism in Somalia, including Somaliland. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in crowded places, high-profile events, events involving government officials and in places visited by foreigners, such as hotels and restaurants

Al Shabaab, a proscribed terrorist group, and other groups opposed to the Somali government continue to carry out attacks in and around Mogadishu. Terrorist groups operating in Somalia have made threats against westerners and those working for western organisations in Somalia, including Somaliland. There is ongoing serious violence between opposing factions.

Attacks of varying sizes are a very frequent occurrence in Somalia. Attacks have previously been targeted at government officials and institutions, hotels, restaurants and public transport including the international airport. Further attacks could occur at any time. Civilians of all ages have been killed in fighting, which often involves heavy weapons.

Methods of attack have included armed assaults, suicide bombings, car bombings, explosions, gun attacks, mortar attacks, improvised explosive devices and the bombing of a commercial aircraft.

There have been no major terrorist attacks in Somaliland since 2008.

There is considered to be a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria. You should be vigilant at this time.

Kidnaps

There is a threat of kidnapping in Somalia, including Somaliland. Kidnapping can be for financial or political gain and can be motivated by criminality or terrorism. A number of western nationals have been kidnapped in Somalia. The long-standing policy of the British government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage-takers. The British government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of further hostage taking. The Terrorism Act (2000) also makes payments to terrorists illegal.