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EU Suspends Somali Visas; Netherlands Plans Kenya Return Hub

6/27/2026

Summary

Story summary

EU Council halted short-stay Schengen visas for Somali nationals after the European Commission said Somalia’s readmission cooperation was inadequate.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Somalia will only accept citizens verified as genuine Somalis before any return, calling verification a sovereign duty.
The Netherlands is studying “return hubs” for asylum seekers, preferring Kenya alongside Rwanda, Ghana and Benin, a plan in EU Migration Pact backed by Germany, Austria, Denmark and Greece.

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Story summary

EU Council halted short-stay Schengen visas for Somali nationals after the European Commission said Somalia’s readmission cooperation was inadequate.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Somalia will only accept citizens verified as genuine Somalis before any return, calling verification a sovereign duty.
The Netherlands is studying “return hubs” for asylum seekers, preferring Kenya alongside Rwanda, Ghana and Benin, a plan in EU Migration Pact backed by Germany, Austria, Denmark and Greece.