Somalia, Libya agree to repatriate 400 Somali migrants from prisons

Sunday April 12, 2026

Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia and Libya have moved to bring home roughly 400 Somali nationals held in Libyan prisons after senior officials met in Tripoli over the weekend, according to authorities.

The deal emerged from a consultative session between Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdisalam Abdi Ali, and Libya’s acting Foreign Minister, Taher Al-Baour. Their discussions centered on deepening diplomatic relations while widening cooperation on migration and security.

Both governments voiced alarm over the difficult humanitarian situation confronting Somali migrants stuck in Libya, many of whom had set out for Europe via dangerous irregular routes across North Africa and the Mediterranean.

Somali officials said the two sides agreed to speed up the repatriation effort in the coming days so the detainees can return home safely.

At the meeting, the Somali foreign minister also handed over an official message from Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre to Libya’s prime minister, underscoring Mogadishu’s backing for structured bilateral cooperation and stronger coordination on shared regional concerns.

Migration control and the fight against human smuggling featured prominently in the talks. The ministers examined the role of organized trafficking networks that move people through irregular channels and leave young migrants exposed to exploitation, detention and abuse.

The Somali government said it remains determined to pursue human trafficking networks that target vulnerable young people seeking to travel along perilous routes between Africa and Europe.

Libya continues to serve as a key transit hub for migrants from the Horn of Africa trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Thousands of Somalis are believed to remain in detention centers across the country, often in harsh conditions.