President holds discussions with Somali Foreign Minister on sending Somalis back

President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has held discussions with the Somali Foreign Minister regarding returning about 40 Somalis found in Maldivian waters, to Somalia.

Speaking to reporters after his visit to Rio de Janeiro to attend the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20, the President said that he met the Somali Foreign Minister during transit in Dubai.

“There are about 40 Somalis in Maldives; discussions were held on returning them to Somalia. I hope this facilitates the signing of an MOU between the Somaliland government and Maldivian government,” the President said.

The Somalis who were found in small dinghies are under the supervision of Security Forces.

The government had earlier stated that the biggest challenge in returning them to Somalia is the existence of several governments in Somalia, which makes it unclear which government they should be handed over to.