3.9.2. Persons belonging to ethnic minorities

COMMON ANALYSIS
Last update: October 2025

This sub-profile refers to the Somali Bantu/Jareer, including the Shiidle clan, and Bajuni.

With historical roots in slavery, coastal trade, or urban settlements, ethnic minorities in Somalia -including the Bantu/Jareer and Bajuni communities- represent some of the country’s most marginalised populations. These ethnic minority groups mostly reside in South-Central Somalia.

  Step 1: Do the reported acts amount to persecution?  

Some acts to which individuals belong to ethnic minorities could be exposed are of such severe nature that they would amount to persecution. More specifically, sexual abuse and violence against women and girls belonging to minority groups have been reported. Bantu/Jareer women enter in forced marriages with Al-Shabaab fighters that are described as sexual and domestic slavery. Cases of abductions, torture and killings of Bantu/Jareer by uniformed Somali police or armed groups that the Somali government was unwilling or unable to control were reported.

The severity and/or repetitiveness of other acts that ethnic minorities could be subjected to and whether they occur as an accumulation of various measures, should be considered. More specifically, members of these groups are discriminated by other Somalis. Bantu/Jareer face systematic exclusion, stigma, social segregation, denial of rights, and low social, economic and political status. They have no access to influential positions and are generally disproportionately vulnerable to conflict-driven displacement. They often lack the land rights and resources enjoyed by more dominant clans. They still face land grabs and forced displacement due to lack of political influence. Their children experience significantly lower school enrolment rates. Furthermore, intermarriages with members of majority clans are generally not accepted. In the Al-Shabaab controlled areas, they face extortion by the extremist militia. Also, Bajuni face systematic exclusion, stigma, social segregation, denial of rights, and low social, economic and political status. Bajuni population is being exploited by Somali businessmen. They lack access to influential positions and face limited opportunities to seek justice in case of conflicts over land or property. Furthermore, Shiidle have faced social exclusion and discrimination within Somali society.

  Step 2: What is the level of risk of persecution?  

The individual assessment of whether there is a reasonable degree of likelihood for ethnic minorities, in the whole of Somalia, including South-Central Somalia, Puntland and Somaliland, to face persecution should take into account risk-impacting circumstances, such as:

• The specific minority group that the applicant belongs to: Differences are observed in the treatment of ethnic minority groups and the severity of violations against them. Bantu/Jareer, apart from discriminatory treatment, have been subjected also to serious human rights violations which would amount to persecution as such, whereas Bajuni seem to face mostly discriminatory treatment.

• Gender: Women and girls belonging to minority groups are at a higher risk of sexual abuse and violence. In IDP camps, Bantu/Jareer women lack (clan) protection. Furthermore, group belonging in combination with gender-based discrimination influences access to education.

• Home area and local clan dynamics: Bantu/Jareer face extortion by the extremist militia in the Al-Shabaab controlled areas. Also, Bajuni enjoy higher levels of healthcare access in urban settings.

  Step 3: Is there a ground for persecution?  

Where well-founded fear of persecution is substantiated for an applicant under this profile, this is highly likely to be for reasons of race/nationality, as these groups are distinct ethnic groups.