Somalia’s aid dependency in 1960-1990

Abstract EN

Prompted by the unfortunate situation of the last 30 years whereby Somalia heavily relies on foreign aid, this article aims to probe the magnitude of the aid dependency of Somalia between 1960 and 1990.

The article finds that Somalia heavily relied on external economic, development, humanitarian, and military aid throughout the 1960s, 70s, and 80s.

This aid mainly originated from the Western World, oil-rich Arab countries, and the former Soviet Union.

The economic and development aid received by Somalia in this period had a negligible positive impact on the economy.