A staff member of the Djibouti embassy in Washington, DC stated that the Somali embassy in Djibouti is still open as a consular office and provides consular services to Somalis in Djibouti (20 Oct. 1994). In the absence of a functioning government in Somalia, Somalis requiring Somali documents generally go to Djibouti to apply for these documents (ibid.). According to the staff member, the Djibouti government finances the operations of the Somali office (ibid.). The office issues and renews Somali passports and other identification documents for Somalis who can provide evidence of Somali nationality, such as birth certificate or an expired identity document (ibid.).

A representative of the Somali-Canadian Association of Etobicoke corroborated the information provided by the Djibouti embassy staff member (20 Oct. 1994). He stated some former Somali embassies have remained open since 1991 to see to the interests of Somalis around the world. The source was unaware that the office in Djibouti was issuing Somali passports. According to him, the "consular offices" are financed by some Arab countries, receiving countries and international organizations, about which the source could not elaborate (ibid.). The representative stated that Somali offices are still open and operating in the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, Rome and Nairobi (ibid.).

According to The Europa World Year Book 1994, Somalia had an embassy in Djibouti in 1993 and its ambassador was Mohamed Shek Mohamed Malingur (1994, 982). The DIRB is unable to corroborate this information at the present time.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Embassy of the Republic of Djibouti, Washington, DC. 20 October 1994. Telephone interview with staff member.

Somali-Canadian Association, Etobicoke. 20 October 1994. Telephone interview with representative.

The Europa World Year Book 1994. 1994. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.

The Europa World Year Book 1994. 1994. 34th ed. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications, pp. 997, 982.