World Refugee Day: Former Somali refugee returns home to rebuild country

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Decades of conflict has made Somalia one of the world's top sources of refugees. Many have fled the country and settled in neighboring Kenya and Yemen. CGTN's Abdulaziz Billow caught up with one returnee who has made it his personal mission to help in the rebuilding of his nation.

28-year-old Ali Hussein Sahal is taking photos at Liido Beach in Mogadishu, one of his favourite hangout spots. Sahal has been living in Somalia now for close to two years, having spent twenty-six years of his life living in Dadaab, one of the biggest refugee camps in the world.

Sahal's family fled from Gedo region just as a deadly civil war engulfed much of the country, he recalls his early days in the camp and how challenging it was for him and many other children.

ALI HUSSEIN SAHAL FORMER REFUGEE "Growing up as a child refugee, I didn't get the privilege to enjoy as many resources as other kids had - were take to school which was free but it wasn't easy - we had no desks and were forced to sit on the floor and take notes barefooted."

Sahal says living conditions in the camps was tough - having to go forego meals on most occasions - meanwhile, no one was allowed to leave the camp by Kenyan authorities.

ALI HUSSEIN SAHAL FORMER REFUGEE "I completed my primary and secondary education inside the camp - all of that without ever visiting outside the camp - the only time I ever left the camp was when I received a scholarship to study in a college."

It's that breakthrough that made Sahal pursue a journalism degree at a local university in Kenya. Since then, the 28-year-old has served in various positions including an editor for the first ever refugee magazine. And in 2017 Sahal retuned back to Somalia, a country he barely knew.

ALI HUSSEIN SAHAL FORMER REFUGEE "You need to take risks sometimes, you need to make tough decisions, try new challenges and be positive about life - believe in yourself and that you can change your country."

However, Sahal's family still live in Dadaab camp in northeastern Kenya - as their son embarks on a crucial journey of finding his roots. Over a cup of tea, Sahal tells me he is working on a documentary on the revival of education sector in and his focus is the state-owned public university Jaamacada Umadda that was destroyed during the deadly civil war.

ABDULAZIZ BILLOW LIIDO BEACH, SOMALIA "In recent years, thousands of former refugees have returned home from Kenya and Yemen - many have secured jobs with the government and private sector. Sahal now hopes that his schoolmates in Dadaab can return and contribute in rebuilding Somalia in various capacities."

ALI HUSSEIN SAHAL FORMER REFUGEE "It doesn't matter what you are paid - but what matters is rebuilding Somalia together - everyone need to contribute their part."

Meanwhile, as Kenyan authorities plan to close Dadaab camp - more and more Somalis are returning back as conditions slowly improve. AB, CGTN, MOG, SOM.