Somalia launches crackdown on human trafficking networks
The decision comes in response to increasing concerns over the dangers faced by migrants, particularly the rising number of Somalis attempting to reach Europe through irregular and hazardous routes.
The Somali government has initiated a renewed campaign against human trafficking networks, targeting individuals and groups responsible for facilitating the illegal movement of Somali citizens into international trafficking operations.
The decision comes in response to increasing concerns over the dangers faced by migrants, particularly the rising number of Somalis attempting to reach Europe through irregular and hazardous routes.
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Somalia’s Attorney General Suleiman Mohamud Mohamed announced the establishment of a new system aimed at identifying, arresting, and prosecuting those involved in trafficking-related crimes.
He emphasised that the effort, supported by international partners, enables Somali authorities to locate suspects even outside the country, including in Sudan, Libya, Algeria, and Morocco.
Through structured legal cooperation, these suspects can now be brought back to Somalia to face justice.
According to Suleiman, Somali authorities have introduced more efficient mechanisms for gathering evidence and verifying the identities of accused individuals. These measures, according to him, have significantly improved the country's capacity to process repatriations through legal and judicial frameworks.
“It is becoming easier for us to repatriate our Somali citizens in Sudan, Libya, Algeria, and Morocco who have committed crimes in Somalia, using legal procedures that facilitate the collection of information and their evidence,” the Attorney General said.
Suleiman also announced that Somalia has joined the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime. He noted that this move strengthens international cooperation by providing legal frameworks to request extradition and share information with countries where trafficking suspects may be residing.
The convention is expected to play a major role in improving cross-border efforts to dismantle trafficking operations.
The crackdown comes amid a noticeable rise in irregular migration from Somalia, particularly among young people seeking to reach Europe. Many migrants attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea after travelling through North African nations.
Some have died during the journey, while others are detained in harsh conditions or held by traffickers who demand ransoms from families.
These developments have placed growing pressure on Somali authorities to take stronger action against those facilitating such movements.
In a recent legal case reflecting the seriousness of the issue, the Banadir Regional Court sentenced six individuals found guilty of running a human trafficking syndicate. The court proceedings, which lasted several days, revealed detailed information about how illicit networks operate within Somalia to transport people across borders.
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