Monday May 19, 2025
Djibouti (HOL) – The Djiboutian government has launched a wide-scale crackdown on undocumented migrants and refugees, arresting and deporting Yemeni, Somali, and Ethiopian nationals over violations of residency and work permit regulations.
The deportations come amid growing international concern, as many affected had fled worsening security and economic crise in their home countries. Local sources and affected individuals report that hundreds have been detained in recent raids on informal settlements, with plans underway to forcibly return them to countries still grappling with conflict, instability, and repression.
Djibouti, located in the Horn of Africa, has long been a transit and host country for migrants and refugees fleeing war and hardship, particularly from Yemen, where an ongoing conflict has driven tens of thousands to seek safety across the Red Sea. The country also hosts significant refugees from Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea.
Humanitarian organizations have expressed alarm at the campaign, warning that returning vulnerable populations to unsafe regions, particularly women, children, and the elderly, could expose them to grave dangers, including violence and exploitation. They called on the Djiboutian authorities to respect international obligations by ensuring the basic rights of migrants and refugees and halting deportations to conflict zones.
There has been no official response from the Djiboutian government addressing the concerns raised by rights groups.
