EU imposes visa restrictions on Somalia over migrant readmission dispute
Faisal Ali
The EU has imposed visa restrictions on Somali nationals, escalating a dispute over the readmission of Somalis living illegally in Europe. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud says the country will accept genuine citizens but demands Europe verify the identities of returnees. The move adds to existing travel hurdles for Somalis, including a US travel ban.
Mogadishu, Somalia – The European Union has imposed visa restrictions on Somali nationals, escalating a dispute with Mogadishu over the repatriation of Somalis living illegally in Europe.
EU member states approved the measures on Thursday, following reports that Somalia was not doing enough to take back citizens denied residency rights.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud pushed back, insisting his government would accept citizens but arguing that many of those sent back were not Somali nationals.
“We are not denying our people; they are the owners of this country. And we cannot deny them,” the president said at an Independence Day event on Thursday, adding that Somalia “has questions about how those people are being returned.”
He said people across the Horn of Africa look similar, and some claim to be Somali to seek asylum in Europe. He cited past cases where returnees believed to be Somali were not, including some who “do not speak Somali.”
“If they are Somalis, we will accept them. If not, we will help you find where they come from, and you can send them there,” Mohamud said.
The push factors driving people to leave stem from decades of turmoil. Somalia is still rebuilding after the collapse of the central government in 1991 and the ensuing civil war. Recovery is hampered by an ongoing insurgency by al-Shabab, an armed group linked to al-Qaeda, which has been carrying out deadly attacks since 2006.
These conditions have driven many young Somalis to attempt the dangerous journey to Europe, often via Libya, where migrants face detention, extortion and violence.
The prime minister regularly deals with such cases, Mohamud said, adding that Somali embassies have been instructed to help citizens repatriate.
Magnus Brunner, the EU’s migration commissioner, said countries of origin must fulfill their commitments “otherwise, there can be consequences.”
A European Commission assessment concluded that Somalia’s cooperation on readmission was insufficient.
Under the new rules, member states can no longer issue multiple-entry visas to Somalis, and fee waivers for holders of diplomatic passports have been removed. Processing times for standard visa applications have also been extended from 15 to 45 days.
The suspension has no fixed end date and is seen as leverage to push Mogadishu to cooperate more closely.
Somalia now joins a short list of countries hit with such measures. The EU imposed similar restrictions on Gambia in 2021 and Ethiopia in 2024, lifting the Ethiopia measures in May after citing improved cooperation.
The visa restrictions add to hurdles for Somali travelers. The United States also imposed a travel ban on citizens from 12 countries, including Somalia, in 2025 after President Donald Trump returned to office. That policy drew attention this month when Omar Abdulkadir Artan, named Africa's referee of the year 2025, was denied entry to the US and unable to officiate World Cup matches despite holding a valid visa.
The standoff comes as the EU tightens its broader approach to migration, pursuing reception centers outside its borders and accelerating deportations of those denied residency.
