Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Aug 18 (AP) — When 19-year-old Nigus Yosef informed his parents about his plan to leave their home in Ethiopia's Tigray region and attempt the perilous journey to Saudi Arabia, they implored him to stay. His two siblings had already embarked on this dangerous route via the Gulf of Aden and conflict-ridden Yemen. His brother ended up in a Yemeni jail for illegal entry, while his sister managed to reach Saudi Arabia, also illegally, facing difficulties leaving the country.
On August 3, 2025, Yosef and five friends from Adi Qeyih boarded a boat heading for Yemen. Tragically, the boat capsized that night. Of nearly 200 people on board, only 56 survived. Sadly, Yosef was not among them.
“His parents are in deep shock and grief,” said his uncle, Redae Barhe, in a phone interview. “They can't even voice their sorrow.” Nigus Yosef is one of 132 missing from the capsizing incident, joining countless Africans who have disappeared seeking new lives.
Perilous Journeys — Families left behind are well aware of the high risks. Overcrowded boats are prone to capsizing in rough seas. Once on land, migrants face dangers with limited resources and protection, falling prey to traffickers and kidnappers.
Senait Tadesse's 27-year-old daughter reached Yemen, only to be kidnapped. The kidnappers contacted Tadesse on Facebook, demanding a USD 6,000 ransom. Tadesse sold her car and jewelry, depositing the money into an Ethiopian bank account, but the demands continued.
Desperate, Tadesse contacted the police with the bank account details the kidnappers used. Meanwhile, she sought news of her daughter on Facebook.
Eventually, a Facebook post from a survivor confirmed her daughter’s tragic death. No arrests have been made so far.
Desperation Driven — Despite Ethiopia's relative stability since the end of the Tigray war in 2022, high youth unemployment and localized unrest persist.
“Many young people no longer see a future for themselves within a nation that does not prioritize their needs,” said Yared Hailemariam, an Ethiopian human rights advocate in Addis Ababa. “The causes are economic deprivation and ongoing conflicts. Young people face the choice of either joining the conflicts or trying to provide for their families.”
The Tigray war interrupted Nigus Yosef's education. He was in 7th grade when the conflict erupted in 2020, leading him to join the Tigray armed forces. After the 2022 ceasefire, he returned home but couldn't find work. After three years, desperation set in.
Local residents report that traffickers exploit this desperation, even reaching remote and rural areas.
Eden Shumiye, only 13, left Adi Qeyih with Yosef. Her parents learned from another migrant reaching Wuha Limat, near the Ethiopia-Djibouti border, that she left with the group.
After the boat capsized, a survivor's relative sent a message from Saudi Arabia via the app Imo, confirming the recovery of Eden's body. Of the six who left Adi Qeyih, only two survived.
“Her mother is heartbroken,” Shumiye's father, Shumiye Hadush, said. “The pain is truly overwhelming.”
Government Warning — In light of the tragedy, the Ethiopian government urged citizens against illegal routes and traffickers, advising them to seek legal opportunities.
However, Girmachew Adugna, an Ethiopian migration scholar, noted legal migration channels are cumbersome. “Passports are hard to obtain due to rising costs,” he said. “Young people find little access to legal paths, turning to irregular means.”
The UN reported over 1.1 million Ethiopian migrants living abroad in 2024, up from 200,000 in 2010. Despite Yemen's civil war, migrant arrivals there rose from 27,000 in 2021 to 90,000 last year, according to the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM).
To reach Yemen, smugglers typically transport migrants on dangerous, overcrowded boats across the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden. The IOM reported at least 1,860 people have died or disappeared on this route, including 480 drownings.
“Our youth are dying due to this dangerous migration,” said Eden Shumiye's father, Hadush. “They fall victim to traffickers' cruelty. When will this tragedy end?”
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