Over 100 More Somalis Arrive in Mogadishu After Rescue from Libyan Jails

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Over 100 more Somalis who were rescued in Libyan jails landed in Mogadishu Wednesday in continuing efforts to repatriate Somali nationals who were smuggled in the north African country.

The plane carrying 147 Somalis landed at Aden Adde Airport Wednesday afternoon as the returnees, most of them young, breathed a sigh of relief as they arrived back home.

The repatriation exercise conducted by the Federal Government in collaboration with the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) and the European Union (EU) has been ongoing for several months.

A further 161 Somalis arrived in the country from Libya in the last few weeks. Some were transported to Hargeisa for onward transportation to their homes in Somaliland.

Several Somalis who were attempting to cross to Europe are reported to be held in prisons in Libya after they were held by smuggling gangs.