Somalia was the second country to recognise the Palestinian declaration of independence after Algeria on the same day, 15 November 1988.

[1] Somalia under the administration of Siad Barre had close and fraternal relations with the Palestine Liberation Organization and its Chairman Yasser Arafat.

Both the PLO and Somalia supported materially and diplomatically the liberation and self-determination movements of Africa and Asia such as ZANU and the African National Congress.

The Somali Army counter-terrorist forces alongside GSG-9 and SAS conducted Operation Feuerzauber and rescued all 86 hostages.

[5] Palestine also sends development aid to Somalia via the Palestinian International Cooperation Agency (PICA).