Somali Observatory for Humanitarian Affairs The Voice of Reality.. The Eye of Humanitarian Truth in Somalia
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MOGADISHU — As part of its continued efforts to protect Somali citizens abroad, the Federal Government of Somalia on Thursday repatriated 129 Somali nationals who had been stranded in Libya after enduring severe humanitarian and security hardships during attempts to migrate through irregular routes. The operation forms part of an ongoing national program aimed at returning stranded citizens from transit countries and ensuring their safe and dignified return in coordination with international organizations and humanitarian partners.
The returnees arrived in Somalia aboard a special charter flight. A total of 110 citizens were received at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, while 19 others arrived in Hargeisa. Government authorities provided an official reception that included emergency humanitarian assistance, healthcare services, psychosocial support, and the necessary arrangements to facilitate their reintegration into their local communities following months of hardship in Libya.
The reception was attended by senior government officials, including the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Advisor to the Office of the Special Envoy for Migrant Return and Children’s Rights, as well as representatives of national institutions responsible for migration and displacement affairs. Officials reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuing evacuation operations for Somali citizens facing humanitarian crises in transit countries while providing comprehensive reintegration and rehabilitation support upon their return.
The government stressed that addressing irregular migration extends beyond repatriation efforts. It also includes strengthening public awareness campaigns about the dangers of irregular migration, combating human trafficking networks, and expanding economic and development opportunities for young people across Somalia in order to reduce the root causes of unsafe migration and provide sustainable alternatives at home.
Libya remains one of the principal transit countries for Somali migrants seeking to reach Europe. However, years of insecurity and the widespread presence of human trafficking and smuggling networks have turned it into one of the most dangerous migration corridors in the region. International organizations continue to document serious human rights violations against migrants, including arbitrary detention, forced labor, extortion, and violence. In response, the Somali government and its international partners continue to implement voluntary return and reintegration programs while pursuing broader initiatives to address the economic and social factors that drive irregular migration among Somali youth.
