HARGEISA — Hargeisa’s Egal International Airport has reportedly been used as a transit point by networks allegedly involved in moving young people and children from Somaliland to Libya and Egypt, with the eventual aim of reaching Europe.
A senior official appointed by the Somaliland president to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, reportedly acknowledged that authorities are aware of the issue. The official, however, said pressure from airlines had limited the ministry’s ability to intervene.
According to the allegations, young people are recruited through a network operating from Hargeisa and extending to countries including Egypt and Libya. They are reportedly promised a relatively safe and comfortable journey toward Europe.
The journey can reportedly change once migrants reach Libya, where some are allegedly handed over to human-smuggling networks that demand thousands of dollars from the migrants or their families.
The issue has also been raised publicly by Waddani Party Chairman Hirsi Ali Haji Hassan during an event attended by Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, widely known as Irro. Hirsi reportedly drew attention to the impact of irregular migration on families across Somaliland.
The allegations highlight concerns over the dangers faced by young Somalilanders using irregular migration routes to reach Europe, particularly the risks associated with crossing Libya and the Mediterranean.
The claims concerning the involvement of airlines and the alleged smuggling network have not been independently verified. No detailed official investigation or public statement establishing the scale of the alleged operation was immediately available.
Authorities have yet to publicly provide further details on measures being taken to prevent young people and children from being exploited by human-smuggling networks.
