'Without work, Somali migrants in Yemen yearn to go back home'

In Aden's so-called "Little Mogadishu," thousands of Somalis live in makeshift shelters surrounded by heaps of garbage and dirt roads, enduring extreme poverty. Yemen, the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula, is largely a transit point for East African migrants seeking work in the wealthy Gulf states, mainly in construction or domestic roles. Strict border controls, however, make leaving Yemen a difficult challenge.

During daylight hours, Somali men roam the streets of Aden, the de facto capital controlled by Yemen's internationally recognized government, searching for any opportunity to earn a living. Years of civil war have caused massive unemployment and food shortages. Many migrants resort to scavenging rubbish or taking on temporary work to survive. Abdullah Omar, a 29-year-old Somali father of four, explained: "Some days we eat, some days it's up to God."

Over a year ago, Omar paid $500 to smugglers to board a boat with his family, hoping to escape Somalia's instability for a better life abroad. In Yemen, he washed cars, earning only a few dollars per day, after previously working in construction in Mogadishu. He had hoped Yemen would offer better opportunities, having passed through the country as a teenager en route to Saudi Arabia.

Years of ongoing conflict, however, have left Yemen divided between Houthi rebels and the government, with hundreds of thousands of civilian casualties and widespread destruction. "Here I have nothing," Omar said, citing the lack of jobs, income, and schooling for his children as reasons for joining a UN program enabling repatriation to Somalia.

Despite harsh conditions, around 17,000 Africans, mainly from Djibouti and Somalia, arrived in Yemen in October, nearly doubling the number from the previous month, according to UN reports. Somalis constitute about 63% of Yemen's 61,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers.

In Aden, local unemployment is already extremely high, making it difficult for African migrants to find work. Humanitarian needs are immense, with over 19.5 million people requiring aid, including 4.8 million internally displaced, according to early 2025 UN data. Economic conditions have worsened due to currency depreciation, halted oil exports, and reduced international funding.

Somalia continues to face instability, with Al-Shabaab controlling large areas, though the capital Mogadishu has experienced relative peace in recent years, allowing a construction boom in parts of the city. A UNHCR survey found that 56% of repatriated Somalis cited lack of income opportunities in Yemen as their main reason for returning home. Oweis Al-Azzan, head of the UN voluntary return program, noted that many refugees want to return but cannot afford travel costs. The program assists with free transportation and cash support upon arrival in Somalia.

So far in 2025, over 500 Somalis have been repatriated, with three more flights planned, carrying around 450 additional people. Among them is Ahmed Abu Bakr Marzouk, a Somali contractor who moved to Yemen 25 years ago, built a family, and sent money home. "For the past three or four years, there's been no work," said the 58-year-old. With no improvement in Yemen, he plans to return to Somalia, where his brothers work in farming, hoping for renewed peace.

Author: Sophia Brooks