President Hassan Sheikh says Mogadishu will welcome its nationals from Europe but demands proper verification of deportees’ identities.
MOGADISHU, Somalia – President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has defended Somalia’s position on migrant readmissions, saying the country has never refused to receive its citizens from Europe but insists that authorities must first verify the nationality of individuals being returned.
The President’s remarks follow a decision by the European Union to impose temporary restrictions on visa access for Somali nationals, citing concerns over what it described as insufficient cooperation in accepting citizens ordered to leave EU member states.
Speaking on the issue, President Hassan Sheikh said the disagreement between Somalia and European authorities is not about rejecting Somali citizens, but about ensuring that only genuine nationals of Somalia are returned.
“We have never refused our own citizens. This country belongs to them, and we cannot reject them,” the President said.
He explained that Somalia’s main concern is the identification process used before deportations, noting that some individuals from the Horn of Africa region may have presented themselves as Somali nationals while seeking asylum in Europe.
The President said Somalia has previously received people who were identified by European authorities as Somali citizens, only for verification after arrival to show that they were not nationals of the country.
He said some returned individuals did not speak Somali, lacked links to Somalia, and were found not to be citizens of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
“We are not refusing our people. Our concern is how these individuals are being identified and returned,” Hassan Sheikh said.
EU Visa Restrictions
The EU’s new measures have affected Somali applicants seeking short-term travel to Europe. Under the restrictions, Somali citizens are no longer eligible for multiple-entry Schengen visas, while processing periods for short-stay visa applications have increased from 15 days to 45 days.
The EU has also suspended simplified documentation procedures for Somali applicants and reinstated visa fees for holders of Somali diplomatic and service passports.
According to the Council of the European Union, the restrictions are temporary and are intended to encourage Somalia to improve cooperation on migrant readmission.
European officials said the measures could be reviewed and lifted if Somalia demonstrates meaningful progress in accepting verified nationals who have no legal right to remain in EU countries.
European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner said countries of origin are expected to cooperate in receiving their citizens, warning that failure to do so could have consequences.
Impact on Somali Travellers
The new restrictions are expected to affect Somali business travellers, students, families visiting relatives, and government officials seeking short-term travel to Europe.
Although the measures do not represent a complete visa ban, they are expected to make the Schengen visa application process longer, more costly and more demanding for Somali citizens.
President Hassan Sheikh’s response signals that Mogadishu is seeking dialogue with Brussels, maintaining that the key issue is not whether Somalia accepts returns, but ensuring that those being returned are genuinely Somali citizens.
The government says a proper verification process is essential to protect Somalia’s national identity system while ensuring that genuine Somali nationals can return home when required.
