Somalia rejects EU claim it refused to readmit deported citizens

Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has dismissed the European Union's (EU) claims that his government is failing to work with European governments on the repatriation of Somali nationals ordered to leave the bloc, insisting Mogadishu has never refused to readmit verified Somali citizens.

His remarks came after the EU announced temporary visa restrictions for Somali nationals on Thursday, on the grounds that Somalia had not done enough to accept the return of Somali nationals facing removal from EU member states.

The measures, adopted by the Council of the European Union, extend the standard visa processing period from 15 days to 45 days. EU member states will also no longer issue multiple-entry visas to Somali nationals.

Somali applicants will similarly not benefit from certain waivers of documentary requirements, while holders of diplomatic and service passports will lose access to visa-fee exemptions.

Speaking during celebrations marking Somalia's 66th Independence Day in Mogadishu, President Hassan Sheikh rejected suggestions that his government was unwilling to receive its own citizens, arguing that the disagreement is over establishing who is actually a Somali citizen before any deportation takes place.

"I want to make it absolutely clear to the Somali nation, especially to our diaspora in Europe, that we have never refused our people. This country belongs to them, and rejecting a Somali citizen from their own homeland is simply impossible,” Hassan said, according to TRT.

Further, Hassan argued that some migrants from across the Horn of Africa have claimed Somali nationality when seeking asylum in Europe, resulting in instances where people sent to Somalia were later found not to be its citizens.

"We have had instances in the past where people were deported to us under the premise that they were 'Somali'. However, upon arrival, it became clear that they did not even speak the Somali language and were not born here; they had simply claimed Somali nationality when applying for asylum," he said.

According to Hassan, Somalia remains ready to receive all confirmed citizens whose asylum claims have been rejected, but said non-citizens should instead be returned to their countries of origin.

"If they are genuinely citizens of the Federal Republic of Somalia, they are returning to their homeland, and we will welcome them with open arms. But if they are not, they should be redirected to their actual countries of origin," he said.

Hassan also rejected claims that Somalia has failed to cooperate with European governments, noting Mogadishu authorities regularly send officials to verify the identities of deportees before approving their return.

He added that Mogadishu has previously arranged flights for verified Somali nationals and directed its diplomatic missions to assist citizens facing removal abroad.