Facebook Twitter (X) Instagram Somali Magazine - People's Magazine
Authorities intensify crackdown on human smuggling as growing numbers of young Somalis seek dangerous paths abroad due to limited local opportunities
Mogadishu (HOL) — In the first three months of 2025, Somalia’s Immigration and Citizenship Agency stopped 124 young people from leaving the country through illegal routes. The move is part of a larger effort by the government to fight human smuggling and prevent unsafe migration.
Officials said the young people, aged between 18 and 25, were planning to travel to different countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa using irregular migration routes. After confirming that they were trying to leave without proper documents, the authorities handed them over to other government departments for help and further processing.
“These operations are part of our duty to protect Somali youth,” said the agency in a statement from Mogadishu. “We want to save them from the serious dangers that come with illegal migration.”
This recent action is just one of several similar efforts. The government has been cracking down on smugglers and stopping more and more young people who are trying to leave the country without going through the legal process.
Many young Somalis dream of a better life abroad because of the tough situation at home. High unemployment, political instability, and limited opportunities push them to take risky journeys in search of a brighter future. With no safe or legal way to migrate, many turn to smugglers who promise to help them reach their destination.
But these journeys are often extremely dangerous. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Somali migrants regularly face abuse, torture, and even death on their way. Many travel through dangerous areas like Libya, Sudan, and Yemen, where they are especially at risk.
In response, the Somali government has been working hard to stop illegal migration. They’ve put stricter controls at borders and increased public awareness campaigns to warn people about the dangers of irregular migration.
Still, officials say that stopping people at the border is not enough. They believe families and communities have an important role to play in protecting young people from falling into the hands of smugglers.
“We ask Somali parents to pay attention to their children’s movements,” the agency said. “We all need to work together as a community to stop youth from risking their lives.”
The United Nations has also spoken out about this issue. It encourages countries like Somalia to come up with complete plans to address the reasons why people want to leave in the first place. These include investing in local job opportunities, improving education, and offering more support to young people.
Experts say that while it’s important to stop smugglers and illegal migration, long-term success will only come from fixing the problems that drive young people to leave. If Somalia can create more opportunities at home, fewer people will feel forced to take dangerous risks abroad.
The Immigration and Citizenship Agency says it will keep monitoring smuggling networks and will continue working closely with families and local leaders to prevent more young people from trying to leave the country illegally.