Terminal Illness & End-of-Life Planning in Somalia: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Coordinate Palliative Care, Home Nursing, and Health Coverage

   • Hospital specialist and supportive care: Coordinate a comprehensive symptom-management and clinical care plan through a major public referral hospital overseen by the Ministry of Health and Human Services (such as Erdogan Referral Hospital, Medina Hospital, or Banadir Hospital in Mogadishu, or regional general hospitals across the Federal Member States) or an accredited private hospital [3]. Request a detailed written medical report in English and Somali summarizing the diagnosis, medication regimen, and supportive care needs [3].
   • Home-based nursing and pain management: Because dedicated standalone hospice facilities are limited in Somalia, supportive end-of-life care is primarily delivered at home with the support of outpatient hospital physicians, private home-nursing teams, and community health workers coordinated under the Ministry of Health and Human Services framework [3]. Ensure the treating physician establishes a clear home pain-management and emergency contact protocol [3].
   • Medical referrals and private health coverage: If your family member holds private medical or Takaful health coverage, or if the family is coordinating specialized treatment abroad, obtain official clinical referral documentation and fit-to-travel assessments from the treating consultant at the Ministry of Health and Human Services facility early [3].
2. 2

   Record Healthcare Preferences and Designate a Family Medical Spokesperson

   • Documenting clinical care preferences: Somalia does not have a standalone statutory living-will act; instead, clinical decision-making is guided by medical ethics, patient consent, and Islamic bioethical principles applied in hospitals regulated by the Ministry of Health and Human Services [3]. While your family member possesses full mental capacity, they can record a clear written statement of their care preferences, including pain relief priorities, preferred location of care (home versus hospital), and wishes regarding invasive interventions when medical treatment is deemed clinically futile [3].
   • Designating a trusted medical representative (Wakiil): In Somali clinical practice, hospital physicians rely on the patient's adult next of kin (Walii) when the patient can no longer communicate [3]. To ensure clarity - particularly where immediate family members live in different cities or in the diaspora - your family member should sign a witnessed written authorization naming a primary local medical spokesperson and provide a copy to the hospital's lead physician [1] [3].
   • Medical certification of mental capacity: When signing healthcare authorizations, powers of attorney, or property documents during serious illness, ask the attending physician at the Ministry of Health and Human Services hospital or clinic to issue a dated medical certificate confirming that the patient is fully lucid, oriented, and of sound mind (Miyir qaba) at the time of execution [3].
3. 3

   Execute Notarial Powers of Attorney (*Wakaalad*) and Bank Mandates While Capacity Is Intact

   • Executing a formal Wakaalad before a Somali Public Notary: Under Somali civil and Shari'ah agency law, a person with full mental and legal capacity may execute a formal Power of Attorney (Wakaalad Sharci ah) appointing a trusted agent (Wakiil) to manage financial affairs, collect rents or business income, pay medical expenses, and represent them before public authorities [1]. To be legally recognised across Somalia, the Wakaalad must be executed before a licensed Somali Public Notary (Nootaayo) in the presence of two adult witnesses, referencing the principal's and agent's identity cards issued by the National Identification and Registration Authority (or valid Somali passports) [1] [2].
   • Registering bank and mobile money mandates: Somali commercial banks (such as Premier Bank, IBS Bank, Salaam Somali Bank, and Dahabshiil Bank) and mobile money platforms (such as Hormuud EVC Plus) require strict identity and signatory verification [1] [2]. While your family member retains capacity, arrange for them to register their authorized representative directly with each bank (either in person or through a domiciliary notary and bank officer visit) so household and medical funds remain accessible [1] [2].
   • Protecting validity if capacity declines: Under Islamic jurisprudence and Somali civil practice, an ordinary agency mandate (Wakaalad) can be suspended or terminated if the principal completely loses mental capacity (Ahliyyah), requiring the local District Court (Maxkamadda Degmada) to appoint a judicial guardian (Walii) [1]. Completing direct bank signatory arrangements and notarised mandates while capacity is certified by a physician avoids urgent court guardianship petitions [1] [3].
4. 4

   Activate Workplace Sick Leave, Disability Support, and Social Protection

   • Labour law sick leave and workplace entitlements: If your family member is employed in the federal civil service or the formal private sector, review statutory sick leave, medical incapacity protections, and employment benefits regulated by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in alignment with International Labour Organization labour standards [4] [5]. Provide the employer with official medical certificates from the Ministry of Health and Human Services facility to protect salary continuation or qualify for medical retirement benefits [3] [4].
   • Social protection for vulnerable households: While Somalia is still developing a comprehensive national contributory disability insurance scheme, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs oversees national social protection policies and targeted safety-net cash transfer programmes (such as Baxnaano) for vulnerable households facing severe economic hardship or chronic incapacity [4] [5].
   • Caregiver leave and family coordination: Employed family caregivers in Somalia should request compassionate or family-care leave arrangements through their employer's human resources office, supported by hospital documentation confirming the patient's need for full-time care [3] [4].
5. 5

   Organize the Will (*Wasiyyah*), Identity Records, and Property Documents

   • Rules governing a Somali Will (Wasiyyah): Estate succession in Somalia is governed by Islamic Shari'ah inheritance rules (Fara'id), which allocate fixed statutory shares to legal heirs (such as the spouse, children, and parents) [1]. While your family member has full capacity, they may execute a formal written Will (Dardaaran or Wasiyyah) before a Public Notary (Nootaayo) and two credible witnesses to: (1) record all outstanding personal debts, trusts (Amaano), and receivables owed to or by them, (2) appoint a trusted executor (Wasi) to administer the estate and care for minor children, and (3) make discretionary bequests of up to one-third (1/3) of the net estate to non-heirs or charitable causes (bequests to legal heirs or exceeding one-third require the post-facto consent of all adult heirs) [1].
   • Caution regarding dispositions during terminal illness (Marad al-Mawt): Under Shari'ah principles applied by Somali courts, gratuitous gifts (Hibah) or below-market property transfers made during a final mortal illness (Marad al-Mawt) are legally treated as testamentary bequests and are restricted to the one-third limit to protect the fixed rights of legal heirs [1].
   • Securing identity and property title records: Ensure your family member's biometric National ID Card with the National Identification and Registration Authority, passport, marriage certificates, and notarised land title deeds (Sabarloog / Waraaqaha Lahaanshaha Dhulka) are organized and stored safely [1] [2].
   • Cross-border diaspora coordination: Because Somalia is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, any Power of Attorney executed by family members in the diaspora for use in Somalia must be notarised abroad and legalised through a Somali embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mogadishu [1].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Federal Government of Somalia - Official Citizen and National ID Services — Federal Government of Somalia
2. [2]
   National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) - Foundational ID System — National Identification and Registration Authority (Somalia)
3. [3]
   Ministry of Health and Human Services - Healthcare Governance and Hospital Services — Ministry of Health and Human Services (Federal Government of Somalia)
4. [4]
   Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs - Labour Administration and Social Protection — Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Federal Government of Somalia)
5. [5]
   ILO Country Office Portal for Somalia - Decent Work and Social Protection — International Labour Organization (ILO)