Man stranded in Africa for 15 years after losing his documents can appeal to be ... trends now
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A man stranded in Africa for the last 15 years after he lost his travel document can appeal to be allowed back into the UK, Court of Appeal judges have ruled.
Saleh Ahmed Handule Ali lost the vital document while he was in Ethiopia in 2009 when he was a teenager.
He and his family had been granted permission to stay in the UK indefinitely in 2004 but he wasn't able to get a new document as the Home Office had no record of his status.
Mr Ali has been stranded in the east African country ever since with repeated bids for entry clearance being denied.
Yesterday, three appeal judges - Lady Justice King, Lord Justice Coulson and Lady Justice Andrews - gave Mr Ali the green light to challenge a decision by an immigration tribunal to block his return, ruling there was an 'overwhelming case' for an appeal in the 'most extraordinary' circumstances.
The Home Office said it was 'carefully considering' the court's ruling.
Three Court of Appeal judges at the Royal Courts of Justice ruled Saleh Ahmed Handule Ali can appeal to be allowed back into the UK after being stranded in Ethiopia for 15 years
A hearing in March was told that Mr Ali was granted indefinite leave to remain in 2004 after relocating from his home country of Somalia with his family.
He was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 2008, aged 18, and travelled to Djibouti to aid his recovery.
He planned to return to the UK within two years, as allowed by immigration rules, but lost his travel document in 2009.
Mr Ali travelled to the nearest British embassy in neighbouring Ethiopia but was twice unsuccessful in gaining the necessary paperwork
