The arrival of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) could not have come at a more tactful time for Somalia, which was due to hold both parliamentary and presidential elections in 2020\/21 after many years of state-building and peace-building efforts. Somalia\u2019s response to the COVID-19 crisis has been irregular.<\/p>\n
The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) confirmed the first case of the novel Coronavirus in the country on 16 March 2020; five days after the World Health Organization (WHO) characterized the infection as a pandemic. Since then, confirmed cases have exponentially increased.<\/p>\n
As of April 18, 2020, there were 135 confirmed cases and seven deaths across the country. Somalia is one of the least prepared countries in Africa for the COVID-19 public health threat.<\/p>\n
Due to Somalia\u2019s creaking health infrastructure, there is a lack of capacity from the government to respond quickly to prevent the spread of the disease across the country.<\/p>\n
This policy brief explores reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic by the Somali government and outlines the socio-economic impact of the disease.<\/p>\n
The brief also provides some relevant policy recommendations to the Somali authorities, including the FGS and its member states.<\/p>\n