Name: Somali recounts torture in Libya, still hopes for a better life
Uploaded: 2025-12-05T23:23:22.372Z
Duration: 1 min 47 s
Description: Awale is one of hundreds of thousands of Somalis who have fled decades of conflict and hardship. While many seek safety in neighboring countries, others — like him — still dream of the West despite rising barriers

Awale is one of hundreds of thousands of Somalis who have fled decades of conflict and hardship. While many seek safety in neighboring countries, others — like him — still dream of the West despite rising barriers

Mogadishu

Mohamed Abdi Awal, a Somali migrant, shared his experience of surviving torture by smugglers and detention in Libya during his attempt to reach Europe. He is among 165 Somalis recently repatriated after enduring severe hardships, including being held for ransom and walking for weeks through the desert before detention near Tripoli.

Awal's journey took him through several African countries and involved significant danger and financial hardship for his family, who raised $17,000 for his release. Despite these ordeals, Awal maintains hope for a better future and still aspires to live in the United States.

Somali recounts torture in Libya, still hopes for a better life

Somali migrant Mohamed Abdi Awal says his dream of reaching the U.S. has survived a brutal journey across Africa, months of torture by smugglers and detention in Libya. Awal is among 165 Somalis recently repatriated after enduring harrowing conditions while attempting to reach Europe. My long-term dream since childhood has been to live in the U.S. But when Trump came to power, my hope of going there was dashed because he hates foreigners. I still hold on to the hope of going to the U.S. And I believe that will happen after Trump's term expires. His journey took him through Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan and Sudan before smugglers captured him near the Libya border and took him to Kufra, a notorious hub for trafficking networks. Captures filmed him being beaten to demand ransom from his family. They threatened me and instructed me to send the money. A poor woman, I couldn't afford the ransom, so I reached out to all Somalis begging for help. Thankfully, they responded and my son was released after we paid $17,000. After his release, Awal attempted to continue towards the Mediterranean coast. But the journey deteriorated further. The group walked more than two weeks through the desert, facing starvation before being detained near Tripoli. Awal has spent three months in various detention centers before finally being flown home in November.

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