Somaliland Can Screen New Arrivals Without Treating Refugees as Suspects
An influx from a war zone creates legitimate security responsibilities. It does not justify treating every Yemeni family, returning Somali citizen or rescued passenger as a potential militant.
Somaliland must know who is entering its territory, identify people requiring protection and investigate credible security concerns. The strongest system is individual, documented and intelligence-led. Collective suspicion is not only unjust; it wastes security resources by producing thousands of weak leads instead of identifying the few cases that may require scrutiny.
Protection and security are compatible
Somaliland’s Refugee Protection Law establishes procedures for refugees and asylum-seekers, including people fleeing war. UNHCR guidance permits screening and recognises exclusion procedures for individuals credibly implicated in war crimes, crimes against humanity or serious non-political offences. It also requires respect for non-refoulement—the prohibition against returning people to danger without a lawful assessment.
An effective coastal process should begin with immediate rescue and medical treatment. Authorities can then record identity information, family relationships, origin, route and protection needs. Yemeni asylum-seekers, Somaliland citizens returning home, unaccompanied children and third-country migrants require different procedures.
Security interviews should be conducted privately by trained personnel using interpreters. Biometrics may help prevent duplicate registration or identity fraud, but the government must limit who can access the data and prevent information from reaching actors who could endanger refugees or relatives remaining in Yemen.
Avoid the intelligence trap
People escaping conflict may have incomplete documents, inconsistent travel histories or visible fear of officials. None of these alone proves hostile intent. Screening should rely on corroborated indicators, watch-list matches, evidence of combat activity and inconsistencies that remain significant after trauma and interpretation problems are considered.
Community leaders can assist communication but should never decide who receives protection. Clan, nationality, sect or place of departure cannot substitute for individual evidence.
WARYATV Assessment
Somaliland can protect its coast without criminalising those seeking safety. A lawful system strengthens security because it produces reliable identities, encourages cooperation and isolates genuine risks. Sweeping suspicion would drive people away from registration, empower smugglers and damage Somaliland’s claim to responsible government. The choice is not between compassion and vigilance. Properly designed, each makes the other more effective.
