This article follows the journey of Mohamed Abdi Awale, one of the 165 Somalis deported back to Somalia after they were arrested in Libya while attempting to get to Europe. Awale Traveled over 5000 miles through East Africa before he was captured by human traffickers at the Sudan-Libya border. He was tortured in Kufra as the traffickers attempted to extract money from his family who ultimately paid them $17,000 for his release. After weeks of starvation, desert travel and detentions in Libya, Awale was finally released and returned to Somalia. Although he has endured unbelievable hardships and despite the recent US travel ban that targets tamales, he continues to dream about making it to America, an aspiration formed over several decades of several wars and displacement in Somalia.
Mohamed’s story exemplifies how massive structural forces, such as Civil War, poverty, and security, and limited opportunity are continuing to propel Somali towards dangerous migration routes. Even though there is growing anti-Somali sentiment in the US and President Trump has imposed travel restrictions on all Somalis, the concept of America as a place of safety and opportunity has been so firmly implanted in many Somali’s minds and it will likely continue to drive their migration decisions, even in the face of great danger. Mohamad’s experiences also revealed the horrific treatment of migrants in Libya, as well as the failure of regional immigration authorities.
In order to create a better environment for Somalis to return to, the government of Somalia can increase funding for reintegration programs for those returning home and fund economic development projects to provide jobs for potential migrants. The United States can address its security concerns by providing refugee status to Somalis. Additionally, international organizations must apply sufficient pressure to Libya to stop torturing and mistreating migrants and develop safe migration policies for East Africa.
This example relates to the course topics regarding human rights, migration, and global inequality. Mohamad’s journey represents structural violence and the push-pull factors which influence migration patterns. In addition, President Trump’s travel ban to prevent Somalis from traveling to the US highlights the issue of state sovereignty vs universal human rights and the fact that Libya is torturing and abusing vulnerable populations in violation of global governance and protection responsibilities.