Somalia Welcomes Home 130 Citizens from Libyan Detention Centres

MOGADISHU – The National Commission for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRI) has provided immediate assistance to nearly 130 Somali nationals repatriated from Libya, where they had been held in detention centres and subjected to various hardships.

The returnees, who arrived in Mogadishu, include young people and elderly individuals. Upon arrival, they were taken to the NCRI’s headquarters, where they underwent registration and received a formal welcome. NCRI Commissioner Liban Abdi, who addressed the returnees, stated that they would receive free medical check-ups, registration with the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), and assistance in reuniting with their families.

The repatriation follows a series of similar operations, including the return of 174 Somali nationals from Libya in April 2026, and the airlift of 184 citizens in September 2025[reference:0]. The federal government has been consistently working to rescue its citizens stranded in Libya, many of whom have been trapped for months or years in overcrowded facilities[reference:1].

Commissioner Pledges Support for Reintegration

Commissioner Liban Abdi also pledged that the agency would assist the returnees in finding employment and educational opportunities, emphasising the NCRI’s commitment to supporting their social reintegration and economic recovery.

Commissioner Liban Abdi Igal was formally appointed to lead the NCRI in April 2026, with the commission serving as the primary government body mandated to coordinate, manage, and implement policies and programs related to refugees and internally displaced persons[reference:2].

Ongoing Repatriation Efforts

The federal government has been conducting a series of repatriation missions to rescue Somali nationals stranded in Libya. In September 2025, the government airlifted 184 Somali citizens, marking a major repatriation drive[reference:3]. In December 2024, 145 Somali migrants were repatriated safely, with 74 returning to Hargeisa and 87 to Mogadishu[reference:4].

Somalia and Libya have held strategic talks in Tripoli to coordinate the repatriation of approximately 400 Somali youth currently stranded in Libya, with officials emphasising that further repatriation missions are being planned[reference:5].

Context of the Repatriation

The repatriation comes amid ongoing concerns over the conditions faced by Somali migrants in Libya. According to IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix, over 1,400 Somali migrants remained stranded in Libya in April 2025, facing insecurity and lack of essentials like food, shelter, and healthcare[reference:6]. In November 2025, 165 Somali migrants returned home under a humanitarian initiative[reference:7].

Way Forward

The repatriation of the 130 Somalis from Libya reflects the federal government’s continued commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens abroad. The NCRI’s provision of medical care, registration, and reintegration support is intended to help returnees rebuild their lives after their ordeal. As the government continues to plan further repatriation missions, the focus remains on ensuring the safe return and sustainable reintegration of all Somali nationals stranded abroad.