Somali Government Grapples with Assisting Deported Citizens in Panama

Mogadishu (AX) ― The challenges of providing diplomatic support from afar are exacerbated by recent events. The Somali government finds itself in a quandary, navigating the complexities of aiding its citizens reportedly stranded in Panama after deportation from the United States. Is there a viable path forward? And how can it protect its nationals so far from home?

The group in question is among the many individuals recently deported from the U.S., held temporarily in a Panamanian hotel while local authorities seek to facilitate their return to their respective homelands. Somali officials acknowledge their awareness of this predicament but admit that the specifics remain elusive.

“We know Somali nationals deported from the United States are currently in Panama,” revealed Abdirahman Nur Mohamed Diinaari, a senior advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a conversation with the BBC Somali Service. “But we don’t yet have the exact number. Their information has been passed to us, and we’re trying to confirm.”

This situation is further complicated by Somalia’s limited diplomatic reach. Without a formal presence in Panama, the Somali government has implored its stranded citizens to connect with Somalia’s embassy in Havana, Cuba—a full 1,500 kilometers across the vast Caribbean Sea. This brings to mind the age-old question: How far would you go to help those in need?

“I hope those individuals can get in touch with our embassy in Cuba,” Diinaari urged. “The ambassador stands prepared to provide assistance, be it humanitarian support or facilitating their journey back home.”

Yet, the logistical hurdles are significant. Without direct ties between Somalia and Panama, it’s difficult to ascertain how the affected individuals will receive the necessary consular support while confined in Panama. It’s a bit like trying to solve a puzzle without all the pieces.

Diinaari mentioned that Somali embassies in Washington, D.C., and New York are also making inroads by contacting U.S. officials to coordinate the safe return of these deported individuals.

Reflecting on the broader backdrop, this development is arguably a legacy of the U.S. immigration policies enacted during former President Donald Trump’s administration, which amplified efforts to deport undocumented immigrants. As we consider the human side of policy, it’s worth pondering: What cost do such decisions exact on communities from Latin America to East Africa?

For many deportees, the forced journey marks not an end but a daunting new chapter, entrenched in a limbo that stretches beyond geographical borders. Their plight underscores the fragile nature of Somalia’s diplomatic landscape, still reeling from the devastation of years past. Anecdotally, it mirrors a time when communication was as slow as it was valued, unlike today.

Rekindling formal diplomatic ties with Cuba in 2023 after a separation of 46 years, Somalia is making strides toward resetting global partnerships. Yet for those stranded in Panama, distant diplomacy offers scant immediate solace.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains that efforts to locate and assess assistance for these nationals continue with urgency. Meanwhile, the deportees remain in a holding pattern—far from the comforts of home, yet not forgotten, at the mercy of the international maze that surrounds them.

As we watch this story unfold, it demands consideration: What can nations with limited resources do to protect their citizens abroad? And what does it mean to belong to a nation when borders feel increasingly abstract?

Edited By Ali Musa, Axadle Times international–Monitoring.