Friday June 13, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Three Somali fishermen who were stranded
at sea for 45 days and later detained in Libyan prisons for six months were
reunited with their families in Mogadishu on Thursday, following a complex
repatriation effort.
The fishermen — Abdullahi Yusuf Jama, Aweys Abdi Sheikh
(commonly known as Aweys Qunjaaro), and Bile Mohamed Mustaf — all residents of
Mogadishu, recounted their harrowing ordeal after being welcomed at Aden Adde
International Airport by officials from the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue
Economy, multi-agency representatives, and emotional family members.
According to the fishermen, their troubles began when their
fishing boat’s engine failed, leaving them adrift in the Indian Ocean. With
their food and water supplies depleted, they were forced to survive by eating
raw fish and drinking seawater.
“We were on the brink of death,” said one of the men. “Each
day we drifted farther, not knowing if we would survive or be found.”
They were eventually rescued off the coast of the Maldives
and later transferred to Libya, where they were detained for several months in
challenging conditions.
The Somali government, with support from the International
Organization for Migration (IOM), successfully negotiated their release and
facilitated their return to Somalia.
In a statement, the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy
expressed gratitude to IOM and all stakeholders involved in securing the
fishermen’s freedom, calling the repatriation a testament to the power of
international cooperation and the Somali government’s commitment to protecting
its citizens abroad.