Wednesday November 6, 2024
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud meets with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, where Mohamud pledged to facilitate the return of Somali nationals without residency permits in Germany. Prior to their meeting, Mohamud made a commitment to reintegrate these individuals in an interview with Germany’s BILD newspaper. CREDIT /ODD ANDERSEN/AFP
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud pledged to welcome Somali nationals back from Germany, stating his country is prepared to reintegrate those without legal residency, after meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday. “I will take back any Somali refugee in Germany who does not have a residence permit or has not integrated here,” Mohamud told Germany’s tabloid newspaper BILD.
“Our country has become safer; we’re no longer just a civil war zone,” said Sheikh Mohamud in his conversation with BILD before meeting with Scholz.
Germany hosts an estimated 65,000 Somali nationals, many of whom hold asylum status. According to Chancellor Scholz, the recent agreement will focus on those without legal residency, particularly individuals involved in serious criminal activities, ensuring a streamlined process for deportation. Scholz declared that this measure respects the rights of the law-abiding Somali community, which contributes positively to German society.
Somalia has made significant progress toward stability and economic recovery despite persistent threats from terrorist groups like al-Shabaab. “We have pushed back the terror militias, and our country is safer,” Mohamud told BILD, adding, “We are no longer the ‘Black Hawk Down’ country.” Referring to the 2001 film about the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, he emphasized that Somalia’s image has changed, and his government is focused on fostering a safe and welcoming environment for returnees.
Mohamud urged German investors to consider Somalia’s growing economic potential beyond traditional development aid, citing the nation’s extensive agricultural lands, rich mineral resources, and prime fishing waters, particularly for tuna. “We need trust and investments, not just development funds,” he told BILD, highlighting Somalia’s readiness to secure and sustain foreign investments.
