Stockholm (Sunatimes) The Somali community in Sweden is campaigning for the revival of Somali family reunion programme banned by the Swedish government.

Dahir Ahmed Jeyte, an official with the Somali Community in Sweden told Bar-kulan that they have been lobbying for the Swedish government to lift the ban on refugee family reunion programme to facilitate the Somali refugee family members to reunite with their family members in Africa.

Dahir said the Swedish government banned the programme citing the disappearance of several Somali family members who fled Sweden to other EU countries to seek asylum in those countries.

So far, 740 asylum seekers brought to Sweden to reunite with their family members in Sweden have disappeared to seek asylum in other countries in the continent.

By early next year, the Swedish parliament is set to discuss complaints lodged by the Somali community in the country asking for the revival of the family reunion programme and if the ban is lifted, then Swedish government might introduce tough rules aimed at scrutinizing the process in verifying family members asking for reunion.

By Siyad Abdi