The European Union has temporarily restricted visa benefits for Somali nationals, citing inadequate cooperation from Somalia on the return of citizens residing irregularly in EU member states. Under the new restrictions, Somali travelers will no longer be eligible for multiple-entry visas, and diplomatic and service passport holders will lose access to fee waivers previously granted to ease travel between the two regions. The decision reflects a strategy of linking visa access to cooperation on migration management. For Somalia, the restrictions increase diplomatic pressure to improve readmission processes and strengthen engagement with European partners. Beyond immediate travel disruptions, the move highlights how migration has become a central foreign policy tool, influencing relations between African governments and European states on issues extending well beyond border management.
CNBC Africa