Official Seals | Somaliland Government Brand

Overview

Every ministry and government institution of the Republic of Somaliland communicates using an official seal. Its shape, content, and ink colour are fixed by law, so the issuing authority can always be identified with certainty.

This section sets out the approved form for the seals of the President and Vice-President, ministries and constitutionally established institutions, and other government institutions, along with the rules governing unofficial seals and seals used for foreign-language communication.

Seals of the President & Vice-President

The seal of the President is circular, with ‘Madaxweynaha’ (President) written at its centre, and ‘Jamhuuriyadda Somaliland’ running around the seal, beginning at the top.

The seal of the Vice-President carries the National Emblem at its centre, with ‘Jamhuuriyadda Somaliland’ on the upper arc and ‘Madaxweyne-ku-xigeenka’ (Vice-President) on the lower arc. Ink and signature colour for both seals is brown.

Ministries & Other Institutions

Seals of ministries, constitutionally established institutions, and other government institutions are also circular, forming a complete 360-degree circle.

Every seal in this group follows the same structure:

Centre: the National Emblem of the Republic of Somaliland, unless a specific law provides otherwise
Upper arc: ‘Jamhuuriyadda Somaliland’
Lower arc: the name of the ministry or institution
Ministries & constitutional institutions — seal ink: green
Other government institutions — seal and signature ink: red
Ministries & constitutional institutions — signature ink: blue, except the Auditor-General, who is authorised by law to use green

A ministry or institution’s seal is separate from its logo, letterhead, and business card — each is governed by its own rules in this guide, and none may substitute for another.

The ink and signature colours set out above are binding; no ministry or institution may substitute a different colour for its tier.

One Official Seal Per Institution

Each ministry and government institution holds exactly one official seal, which legally represents the institution as a whole. It is kept in the institution’s records office.

This official seal is distinct from the unofficial and departmental stamps described below, which may never be used in its place for matters requiring the institution’s full legal authority.

Unofficial / Departmental Seals

Departments within a ministry or institution may hold unofficial seals for internal documents, correspondence, and operational activity only — such as operational stamps and financial stamps. Unlike the official seal, these are rectangular, with opposite sides equal, and must show the name of the ministry or institution, the name of the department using it, and, where relevant, its specific purpose (for example, receipt of payment or approval).

Foreign-Language Seals

Overseas offices, ministries, and government institutions may hold a second version of their official seal in Arabic or English, for communications of an international nature or relating to foreign affairs. A foreign-language seal follows the same format and requirements as the seal it represents, and both versions together count as a single official seal.