Djibouti has announced it will begin deporting foreigners residing in the country “illegally” and urged them to leave before the end of April.
The Horn of Africa nation serves as a migration hub for individuals attempting the dangerous Red Sea crossing to reach wealthier Gulf countries.
Tragically, at least 558 people died making this perilous journey in 2024, according to the UN.
Alexis Mohamed, an advisor to Djibouti’s president, stated that the country “cannot accommodate all the world’s poverty,” emphasizing that the decision is primarily driven by security and health concerns.
While the interior ministry did not specify the number of people affected, it had already issued a call for those illegally present to leave by the end of the month.
Despite its small population of around one million, Djibouti is a relatively stable nation in a volatile region. It is located just 26 kilometers from Yemen across the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
Tens of thousands of migrants, often from neighboring Ethiopia, undertake the risky sea voyage annually, seeking to escape conflict, natural disasters, and limited economic opportunities in hopes of finding work in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations.
