Informal Remittance Systems in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Countries: Somalia Country Study

This study is based on published sources and grey literature and informed by the author’s research with people from Somalia living in the UK (2002–2004). Since the Somali civil war began in 1988, significant movements of people from Somalia to neighbouring countries and unprecedented migration to Europe and North America have occurred. Remittances have assumed great importance in this context. Drawing a clear line between formal and informal remittance systems is often difficult. Regulation, supervision and recording may be seen as different dimensions of formality. Legality is another dimension. In the case of Somalia, distinguishing between formal and informal is particularly complex because the state collapsed in 1991. The current “national” government controls only part of the capital city and does not regulate, supervise or record remittance flows.