History of the Jews in Somalia

The presence of Jewish communities in Somalia has been the subject of much speculation and debate throughout history.^{[citation needed]} A small number of Jews, estimated to be around 100-200 individuals, migrated to Somalia in the early 1900s as traders and settled in coastal towns such as Berbera, Zeila and Brava. However, a report by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) published in 1949 stated that there were "no Jews left in Italian and British Somaliland".

It is believed that a wave of Yemenite Jews arrived in the Somali territories in the 1880s, and other Ottoman friendly territories around the same time when Yemenites immigrated to the Ottoman Jerusalem. From 1881 to 1882, a few hundred Jews left but more arrived until 1914. Yemenite-Somali Jews served as prominent leaders in successive Somali governments of the 1960s and 1970s. However, when Somalia joined the Arab League in the 1970s, many Yemenite-Somali Jews sold their businesses and emigrated. Today, present-day Yemenite-Somali Jews are estimated to be no more than five to 10 merchant families widely distributed along the coast in Benadir coast, and northern Somali cities. The ruins of historic Eastern Synagogues can still be found in Obbia town in Somalia, but many smaller local synagogues in towns such as Hafun, Alula and Bender-Qasim were destroyed by the Italian fascists in the 1930s.^{[citation needed]}

While the history of traditional Jewish communities in Somalia is relatively well-known, little is understood about the crypto-Jews who practiced their faith discreetly. The true extent of Jewish presence and influence in Somalia remains a topic of ongoing research and debate.

There are no formal diplomatic relations between the two countries because Somalia does not recognize Israel as an independent state. Israel was one of 35 countries that recognised the State of Somaliland's brief five-day independence in 1960.^{[page needed]} In 1974, Somalia joined the Arab League and complied with the Arab League boycott of Israel.^{[better source needed]}

On 26 December 2025, Israel became the first UN member state to recognize Somaliland, an unrecognized state that declared independence from Somalia in 1991, as a sovereign state. The Somali government issued a statement condemning the Israeli government's decision.

Judaism has a rich history in the Somali peninsula, with both Ethiopian and southern Arabian strains present in the region. While there is limited evidence of any Somali clans embracing Judaism during the pre-Islamic era, the conversion of individuals and families cannot be ruled out. The Hebrew heritage of marginalized Somali clans, including the Yibir, can be traced back to the Beta Israel, or Ethiopian Jews. By the 16th century, the Somali population had largely adopted Islam as their primary religion.

Ethiopians brought their brand of Christian orthodoxy and elements of Judaism with it. This is evident in the presence of Jewish archeological evidence in the region, such as ancient cemeteries in the Hargeisa region of Somaliland embossed with the Star of David. The Damot Kingdom, led by the Jewish Queen Gudit, also had a significant impact on the spread of Judaism in the region.^{[citation needed]}

The Yibir, also spelled as Yibbiro or Yebiro, is a marginalized clan found in Somalia. They are believed^{[by whom?]} to have Jewish roots, specifically tracing their heritage to the Beta Israel, also known as Ethiopian Jews. The Yibiro have faced discrimination and marginalization within Somali society due to their perceived Jewish heritage.^{[citation needed]}

There is limited historical evidence of the Yibir's Jewish origins, but it is believed^{[by whom?]} that they may have been converts to Judaism or that Jewish traders and merchants may have intermarried with the clan. Some accounts^{[like whom?]} suggest that the Yibir have preserved Jewish customs and practices, such as circumcision and kosher slaughter of animals. However, their Jewish identity has been largely kept secret for fear of persecution.^{[citation needed]}

The Yibir have traditionally been associated with the practice of traditional healing and divination, which has led to further discrimination against them. They have also been marginalized economically and socially, often occupying the lowest rungs of Somali society.

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