Austria has deported two Somalis to Somalia for the first time in nearly two decades. The two men were deported to the capital Mogadishu on Tuesday, the Austrian interior ministry said. The ministry added that the men had been convicted of various crimes, including drug trafficking.
Somalis have become the third largest group of asylum seekers in Austria this year. In the first seven months of the year, 648 applications were submitted. A total of 463 people were granted full asylum, while 334 were granted temporary admission and 12 were granted humanitarian residence. The overall acceptance rate for Somali applications this year was 44 percent.
Somalia remains one of the most unstable countries in Africa. Al-Shabaab has stepped up attacks this year, with an attempted attack on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in mid-March that left several people dead.
The Austrian Interior Ministry said the move demonstrates a strong, consistent and fair asylum policy. A person has also recently been returned to Syria, while plans for deportations from Afghanistan are underway. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner met with his German counterpart Alexander Dobrindt to discuss how the two countries can work together on refugee deportations.
