Illegal Somali immigrants detained in Sudan

MOGADISHU, Somalia, May 3, 2004 (Sudan Tribune) — A huge number of illegal Somali immigrants are reported to have been detained in Khartoum. They had expected to meet Somali businessmen in Sudan to arrange for illegal trips to Libya, but the Sudanese authorities last week arrested all Somali businessmen involved in arranging for illegal trips to Libya.

According to the Mogadishu based radio Shabeelle, Somali nationals, mostly young men and women, arrive in Sudan for the purpose of crossing the border into Libya. Somali businessmen in Sudan used to arrange vehicles to carry the Somalis to the Sudanese border with Libya. In Libya, Somalis arrange further illegal and risky trips to Italy on small boats through the Mediterranean.

A Somali elder in Khartoum told Radio Shabeelle that he is making efforts for the release of the Somali businessmen arrested by the Sudanese police and expected that they would soon be released on bail.