Lead
The European Union is imposing new restrictions on visas for Somali nationals, citing a lack of cooperation from Somalia over the return and readmission of irregular migrants. The measures, approved by EU member states, suspend the issuance of multiple-entry Schengen visas to Somali citizens and extend the processing time for visa applications to 45 days, as reported by Africa News, Al Jazeera, and AllAfrica.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has contested the EU's criticism, saying Mogadishu will accept all Somalis, but insisting that many people claiming to be Somali are nationals of other countries seeking asylum in Europe.
Coverage comparison
The three outlets covering this story agree on the core facts: the EU has imposed visa restrictions on Somali nationals due to a disagreement over the return of irregular migrants, and the measures include the suspension of multiple-entry visas and an extended processing period of 45 days.
Africa News frames the EU's action as a response to "lack of cooperation from Somalia" and notes that similar measures were previously imposed on Ethiopia and The Gambia. Al Jazeera emphasizes the dispute with Mogadishu and devotes significant attention to President Mohamud's pushback, framing the root causes of migration as "decades of upheaval" in Somalia. AllAfrica presents the EU's assessment that progress on readmission "had not met expectations," and notes that the restrictions are temporary and could be reviewed.
Key Claims
- The EU is imposing new visa restrictions on Somali nationals due to a disagreement over the return of irregular migrants, as reported by Africa News, Al Jazeera, and AllAfrica.
- Somalis will no longer be eligible for multiple-entry Schengen visas, according to Africa News and AllAfrica.
- The processing time for visa applications submitted by Somali nationals has been increased to 45 days, as reported by Africa News and AllAfrica.
- One discrepancy exists regarding diplomatic passports: Africa News reports that diplomatic passports will not be exempt from fees or offered simplified procedures, while AllAfrica states that the restrictions do not apply to holders of diplomatic and official service passports, including senior government officials.
- Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud contested the EU's criticism, saying Mogadishu will accept all Somalis, as reported by Africa News and Al Jazeera.
- The EU previously imposed similar measures on Ethiopia and The Gambia, as reported by Africa News.
- The measures are intended to encourage the Somali government to improve collaboration on the repatriation of its citizens residing unlawfully in Europe, as reported by AllAfrica.
- Somalia is still rebuilding after the collapse of its central government in 1991 and the long civil war that followed, as reported by Al Jazeera.
- The ongoing armed rebellion of al-Shabab has stifled recovery efforts in Somalia, according to Al Jazeera.
- The United States imposed a sweeping travel ban in 2025 covering citizens of a dozen countries, including Somalia, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Perspectives
European Union: The EU has imposed visa restrictions on Somali nationals citing insufficient cooperation from Somalia on the readmission of its nationals staying illegally in EU member states. According to an official EU document, progress in this area had not met expectations, and the measures are intended to encourage the Somali government to improve collaboration on repatriation. The restrictions are temporary and can be reviewed depending on future developments.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud: The president pushed back against the EU's criticism, saying his government would readmit its citizens, but insisted that many returnees are not Somali nationals. He noted that people across the Horn of Africa share a similar appearance, and some present themselves as Somali to claim asylum in Europe. He said, "If they are Somali, then we'll take them. If they aren't, we'll help you find out where they are from, and you can send them there."