MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – The European Union has imposed new visa restrictions on Somali citizens, intensifying a growing dispute with Mogadishu over the return of Somalis living irregularly in Europe.
Wararka Soomaaliya
EU member states approved the measures on Thursday after reviewing a European Commission assessment that found Somalia’s cooperation on readmitting nationals whose applications to remain in Europe had been rejected was insufficient.
Under the new rules, member states will no longer issue multiple-entry visas to Somali citizens. The visa fee waiver previously available to holders of Somali diplomatic passports has also been removed, while the standard processing time for visa applications has been extended from 15 days to 45 days.
The restrictions have no fixed end date and are intended to encourage stronger cooperation on migrant readmissions.
Faahfaahinta
Speaking during Somalia’s Independence Day celebrations on Thursday, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud rejected suggestions that Somalia was refusing to accept its own citizens.
“We haven’t rejected our people; they own this country. And we cannot reject them,” the president said.
Mohamud said Somalia’s concerns relate to the identification of returnees rather than opposition to repatriation itself. He argued that people from across the Horn of Africa often share similar physical characteristics and that some migrants have falsely identified themselves as Somali while seeking asylum in Europe.
Saamaynta
The president cited previous cases in which individuals returned to Somalia were later found not to be Somali nationals, including some who were unable to speak the Somali language.
“If they are Somali, then we’ll take them. If they aren’t, we’ll help you find out where they are from, and you can send them there,” Mohamud said.
According to the president, Somali embassies have been instructed to assist nationals returning home, while the prime minister’s office regularly handles repatriation matters.
Wararka.so waxay kuu soo tebineysaa wararka ugu dambeeyey ee Soomaaliya iyo caalamka. Si aad ula socoto wararkii ugu dambeeyey, booqo boggayaga.
