Ethiopia has deported over 50 Somalis from its country after arrested in security operations last month, Horseed Media reports.
The Somali refugees were detained in Addis Ababa and held in custody for more than 20 days before being deported to the breakaway region of Somaliland, according to local officials.
‘’We were arrested in security operations before Barack Obama visited Addis Ababa and held for 25 days,’’ said one of the deportees in an interview with the BBC Somali Service.
Some of the deportees were accused of illegally residing in the country, whereas some were planning to travel to Libya in order to cross the dangerous Mediterranean Sea.
Tens of thousands of Somalis fled the country after the Central Government was overthrown in 1991 and civil war emerged. Most went to neighbouring countries but large numbers sought sanctuary in Europe and North America.
Horseed Media
Somalia: Over 50 Somali citizens deported from Ethiopia
Published: August 15, 2015