MOGADISHU – Somalia's Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre on Monday said the federal government is ready to receive citizens returned from Europe, but stressed that nationality must be verified first.
Speaking at the launch of the Somali Diaspora Centre in Mogadishu, Barre said Somalia has never refused to receive its own citizens, but argued that any repatriation process should respect due process and ensure that those being returned are confirmed to be Somal
"Our people belong to this country—no one can deny them entry. But they deserve to have their rights respected, and the process of returning them must be conducted in a manner that is fair and satisfactory," Barre said.
The Prime Minister was commenting on European Union's decision to tighten visa procedures for Somali nationals due to what it described as Somalia's government's reluctance to take back its nationals deported from Europe.
Barre reiterated the position previously expressed by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who called for the verification of individuals' nationality before they are returned to Somalia.