Friday July 4, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) – Somali government on Thursday repatriated
14 Somali youth who had been detained in Algeria while attempting to migrate
irregularly to Europe, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International
Cooperation announced.
The group, which includes 11 young men and three young
women, had been arrested while traveling along one of the most perilous and
heavily trafficked migration routes through North Africa. They were received at
Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu by senior government officials,
including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Hamza Adan Hadow, and the
Director of the Africa Department, Abdulkadir Burgal.
Algeria has increasingly become a key transit hub for Somali
migrants seeking to reach Western Europe—often facing dire humanitarian
conditions, including detention and abuse.
Upon their arrival, the returnees shared accounts of the
hardships they faced in Algerian detention centers and expressed deep gratitude
for the government’s intervention in securing their release and safe return.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding
Somali nationals abroad and ensuring their safe and dignified repatriation.
“This initiative reflects the government’s responsibility to protect its
citizens and its dedication to strengthening consular support systems,” said a
ministry official.
The Somali government is also working closely with
international partners to raise public awareness about the risks of irregular
migration. Efforts are underway to provide Somali youth with better economic,
educational, and employment opportunities to address the root causes driving
migration.
This marks the second successful repatriation in recent
weeks. In May, the Somali government repatriated nine young people from Algeria
under similar circumstances.
Officials have reiterated their call for Somali youth to
pursue legal, safe, and informed migration paths and to avoid the false
promises and life-threatening risks associated with irregular migration routes.