Somalia’s government rescues 13 Somalis from Libyan prisons
Hargeisa, Somaliland, March 9, 2018 – On the 7th of March, Turkish Airline rescued 13 Somali prisoners from Libya to the capital city of Somalia, Mogadishu. The initiative was made by Federal Government of Somalia and actively implemented by the ambassador of Somalia to the EU, Mr. Ali Said Fiqi, with the support of UNHCR and IMO that took an important role in the repatriation.
According to media report, Federal Government of Somalia has pledged to aid Somalis in the jails of the world by ensuring that they return to their homeland peacefully.
A few days ago, the Adan Cade Airport received some Somalis who rescued from prisons in Libya.
Some government officials welcomed these youth at Adan Cade Airport – most especially those who could not endure the difficulties they met in the jails of Libya.
However, it was also reported that some of them who preferred to stay in prison than to return to the country with empty pockets were left behind in captivity.
While taking to the press, one of the government officials said that this is a part of the promise of the government called ‘Peace and Live’, which is aimed at rescuing Somali people in jails across the world.
He said, “This is the part of the pledge of the government called ‘Peace and Live’ which is to help troubled Somalis in diaspora and in the Jails. It is not the first time, but we did it previous times; and it will continue. We sincerely thank UNHCR and IMO for helping us to making this a reality.”
Some of the interviewed returnees told the media that they were very happy coming back to their homeland. They also recount unpalatable experiences faced by Somali people in diaspora. They thanked to the government for helping them and implored Somali to stay and believe the prosperity of their country.
One of them said, “We came from Libya, and we are very happy staying in our homeland. We met in the jails of Libya a countless problems. There are others in the jails of Libya whose lives are far more miserable than life of an ordinary street man in our streets here. We thank the government, and advise our people to look inward in order to realize the prosperity in their land.”
Reporter: Suhaib Ismail Mohamed
