Three days after Somaliland government ordered all illegal foreigners to leave its territory, within twenty days, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Friday started relocating those targeted from Hargeisa.
The refugee agency relocated Oromo families who have lived in Somaliland for over 25 years back to Ethiopia.
IOM said it had relocated over 30 people including the elderly mothers, women and children.
The Director of the Department of Refugees and IDPs, Roble Ibrahim Ahmed, thanked the IOM for its role in relocating the refugees, and said more will be returned to their country of Ethiopia.
The Director claimed that these people have voluntarily requested to be returned to their country.
The deportations follow Somaliland’s issuing a 20-day period for illegals to leave its territory,
On Tuesday, the Somaliland government issued a 20 day ultimatum for illegal foreigners living in the country to leave.
“The Immigration Command of the Republic of Somaliland informs foreigners who are illegally staying in Somaliland to leave within the period of the next twenty (20) days starting from 28/07/2022 to 17/08/2022” said the order of the immigration branch.
Businessmen were also asked to ensure their foreign employees have the required papers.
“Also, companies, agencies and businesses that employ foreign workers are being informed that they should only employ foreigners who have a valid visa or refugee status,” said the order of the immigration department.
