EU imposes visa curbs on Somalia over refusal to accept returned migrants; Mogadishu pushes back
EU justice ministers formally imposed restrictions on Somali nationals on June 29, ending eligibility for multi-entry Schengen visas, extending processing times to 45 days, and reinstating passport fees for diplomats; irregular Somali arrivals in Europe rose 100% in 2024-2025 and Mogadishu has refused to accept rejected asylum seekers
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Summary
The European Union formally imposed visa restrictions on Somali nationals on June 29, 2026, ending access to multi-entry Schengen visas, extending processing times from 15 to 45 days, and reinstating fees for diplomatic and service passport holders. The Justice and Home Affairs Council approved the measures on June 4 after irregular arrivals from Somalia increased by over 100% between 2024 and 2025. Mogadishu has declined to accept returned irregular migrants, with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud saying bilateral coordination must precede any removals. EU officials said the restrictions are temporary and would be lifted if Somalia cooperates on readmission.
Why it matters
The restrictions set a precedent for using visa access as leverage to extract readmission cooperation from African states, a tool the EU has applied selectively but is now codifying more systematically. The bilateral standoff leaves tens of thousands of Somalis with rejected EU asylum claims in legal limbo, while the restrictions burden families and businesses with no connection to the migration dispute.