Sunday April 12, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia and Libya have agreed to repatriate about 400 Somali nationals held in Libyan prisons, following high-level talks between the foreign ministers of the two countries in Tripoli, officials said on Saturday.
The agreement was reached during a consultative meeting between Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdisalam Abdi Ali, and Libya’s acting Foreign Minister, Taher Al-Baour. The discussions focused on strengthening diplomatic ties and expanding cooperation on migration and security issues.
According to Somali officials, the two governments agreed to expedite the repatriation process in the coming days, allowing the detainees to return home safely.
During the meeting, the Somali foreign minister delivered an official message from Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre to Libya’s prime minister, reaffirming Mogadishu’s commitment to structured bilateral cooperation and improved coordination on regional challenges.
Migration management and efforts to combat human smuggling were central to the talks. The ministers discussed the activities of organized trafficking networks that facilitate irregular migration and expose young migrants to exploitation, detention and abuse.
The Somali government said it remains committed to cracking down on human trafficking groups that prey on vulnerable youth seeking to migrate through dangerous routes between Africa and Europe.
Libya remains a major transit point for migrants from the Horn of Africa attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Thousands of Somalis are believed to be in detention centers across the country, often under harsh conditions.
