MOGADISHU, Somalia – President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has sparked an uproar on social media after he signed a deal with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to send 65,000 Somali refugees back home, raising questions given that the same problems—like insecurity and lack of job opportunities—that drove them to flee in the first place are still ongoing.
For many, reaching Germany was about getting away from the violence and chaos in Somalia, where Al-Shabaab still carries out attacks and the scars of years of war are still fresh. Now, this deal feels like a heavy blow to their hopes of safety and a better future.
Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire said it was unfortunate for President Mohamud to sign a deal to deport Somalis from Germany while his government has no plan for livelihood opportunities, jobs, or a hopeful future for their return.
Khaire also criticized the President for not understanding the impact on Somali communities worldwide. “It’s unfortunate,” he said, “that young Somalis educated here had to flee, not for foreign lands, but because of harsh conditions at home.”
He said the current government needs to take responsibility for changing the conditions that have forced Somalis to flee, create hope for a better future, and encourage citizens to stay while allowing the diaspora to return.
He also urged Somali leaders to prioritize a plan that creates jobs and opportunities for young people within the country. “A solution is needed for those still leaving,” he said, “before any action is taken to deport citizens abroad; their needs must first be addressed.”
In an interview with Bild newspaper on Tuesday, President Mohamud stated that any Somali refugee without legal status in Germany would be deported. “Somalia is at peace now,” he said. “We’re no longer in a civil war. Yes, we still face groups like Al-Shabaab and ISIS, but we’ve made progress. We’re no longer the country of ‘Black Hawk Down.’”
Germany is home to over 65,000 Somalis, many of whom are seeking asylum. This year alone, 5,800 have applied, according to Bild.
In a social media post, Senator Maryan Farah Kahie, chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, strongly criticized the deportation plan, calling it unfortunate. She said that while the president has failed to provide jobs for young people in Somalia, he is now pushing to deport them from countries where they sought safety and a better future.
Senator Kahie said the struggles of young Somalis who fled the country for safety and a better life are being overlooked. “While Somalia is their homeland,” she said, “it’s disgraceful for the current government to push for their return without first ensuring peace and stability.”
She also shared a photo of a young girl in her school uniform, standing in the ruins of her home. “It’s troubling to see vulnerable people left behind,” Kahie said, pointing to the girl’s heartbreak after her home was demolished on President Mohamud’s orders. “The suffering of those evicted from state-owned land in Mogadishu is evident,” she added. “This is a serious issue that must be addressed.”
Despite President Mohamud’s plan to deport refugees without legal status in Germany, many Somalis—particularly young people and university graduates—remain determined to leave their country in search of safety and a better future. In Mogadishu, shop owners continue to be killed for installing government-mandated CCTV cameras, while others have closed their businesses out of fear of Al-Shabaab retaliation.
While Somalia has made some progress, security remains a major concern. For those who fled violence, returning to a country still facing such threats feels overwhelming. As a result, many migrants are now uncertain about what lies ahead.
