 has issued a fresh assessment warning that irregular migration out of Ethiopia will continue...Read.){kind=link}
By Staff Writer
(Nairobi, Kenya) — The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has issued a fresh assessment warning that irregular migration out of Ethiopia will continue to rise as long as underlying economic hardship, internal security instability, and climate-induced pressures like El Niño remain unaddressed.
According to the UN migration agency’s quarterly report covering the first quarter of 2026, outgoing migration along the Eastern Route saw a temporary 22 percent decline—dropping to 50,600 migrants compared to 65,200 during the same period last year. However, experts emphasize that this reduction stems from law enforcement operations and security crackdowns rather than a decrease in people’s desire to leave.
The report notes that Ethiopian authorities deployed security forces along major transit corridors in February 2026 to curb human smuggling. Increased military presence near the Galafi–Yoboki border point disrupted established transit paths, forcing migrants and human smugglers to shift operations toward nighttime crossings along the Dewele–Ali Sabieh route into Djibouti.
Simultaneously, departures along the Djibouti Obock coastline fell by 15 percent, largely driven by heightened maritime and border security measures surrounding Djibouti’s 2026 presidential campaign period.
Despite border interventions, transnational smuggling cartels quickly adapted to bypass official security checkpoints. The IOM identified active and expanding illicit networks operating through Borama, Wajale, Hargeisa, Berbera, Burao, and Erigavo, steering migrants toward the port city of Bossaso in Puntland, Somalia.
Despite the constant threat of detention, physical abuse, and forced deportation, thousands of young Ethiopians continue to make the perilous journey to Bossaso, driven by an unwavering demand to reach Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.
The migration surge has triggered an escalating humanitarian emergency in transit regions:
- Somalia Transit Numbers: The volume of stranded migrants in Somalia surged from 2,649 in March 2025 to 7,760 by March 2026.
- Child Exploitation Risks: In Bossaso alone, an estimated 2,200 migrant children face severe vulnerability to human trafficking, physical abuse, and prolonged displacement.
- Northern Corridor Insecurity: Growing geopolitical tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea—following Eritrea’s formal exit from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in late 2025—have raised additional safety concerns for travelers moving along the northern transit routes.
The report concludes that restrictive border enforcement alone cannot halt migration flows. Without sustainable domestic economic relief, job creation, and lasting regional peace, Ethiopian youth will continue taking hazardous journeys regardless of the severe risks involved.
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