Africa

Somalia releases 33 Iranians imprisoned last year

Some of the 33 Iranians who were freed from a prison in Somalia on March 25, 2024. (Photo: Horseed Media)

By Foreign Reporter | Monday, March 25, 2024

Ali Gholampour, Iran's ambassador to Kenya, said the release of the detainees was a sign of Somalia's readiness to thaw diplomatic relations after years of stagnation.

Somalia has released 33 Iranian fishermen and sailors who were detained in the country, according to the Iranian News Agency (IRNA).

The Iranians were apprehended by Somalia in the summer of 2023 for operating in the Indian Ocean without proper permits and were subsequently sentenced to six years in prison, along with hefty fines, as reported by IRNA.

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Following their release, Ali Gholampour, Iran's ambassador to Kenya, said they were being repatriated by plane, a sign of Somalia's readiness to thaw diplomatic relations after years of stagnation.

Gholampour, who has a permanent residence in Nairobi, expressed optimism that Mogadishu's freeing of the detainees would foster a conducive environment for the re-establishment of bilateral ties, facilitating constructive engagement and dialogue between the two nations.

He noted that a key priority for both parties was drafting a fisheries cooperation agreement to protect mutual interests and prevent future incidents of the seizing of Iranian fishing vessels by Somalia.

Somalia severed diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016, citing "Iran's continuous interference in Somalia's internal affairs," although specific details regarding the alleged interference were not provided.