MOGADISHU (SD) – Finland’s Minister of the Interior, Meri Rantanen, who belongs to the far-right Finns Party, visited Somalia. Her objective was to hold discussions with Somali officials to establish a framework for returning Somali asylum seekers currently residing in Finland.
This was stated in a press release issued by Finland’s Ministry of the Interior. Many believe this move is part of a political campaign targeting undocumented Somalis living in Finland.
In the statement, Rantanen emphasized that Finland seeks to foster a productive partnership with Somalia that benefits both nations.
“Finland’s top priority is to develop effective plans related to repatriation and enhance cooperation with Somalia on these matters. This reflects the Finns Party’s intention to establish a mechanism to return Somali asylum seekers residing in Finland,” the statement said.
In return, Finland’s government will resume its bilateral development program with Somalia, which had previously been suspended following a decision by Finland’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Development, Ville Tavio, who also belongs to the Finns Party.
The Minister clarified that development cooperation is conditional upon countries agreeing to accept the return of their nationals when requested by Finland.
Apart from a brief post on the Somali Prime Minister’s Office Facebook page, the Somali government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the Finnish Interior Minister’s visit or any discussions about plans for repatriating Somali nationals.
The minister met with Somalia’s Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, and Somalia’s Minister of Internal Security, Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail.
The exact number of undocumented individuals in Finland is unclear but is estimated to be between 3,000 and 6,000, according to Finland’s Refugee Agency. The number of undocumented Somalis in Finland is estimated at 100–200.
Political analysts believe this relatively small figure does not pose a significant burden on Finland’s government or society. They argue that the real reason behind raising this issue with Somalia is to bolster the Finns Party’s campaign for the upcoming municipal and regional elections scheduled for April 2025.
Categories: Latest News