Hundreds Passing Through Galafi, Dewale Daily
In recent weeks, a significant shift in Djibouti’s immigration policy has led to a dramatic exodus of undocumented Ethiopian migrants from the country. Sources close to the situation have revealed to The Reporter that large numbers of Ethiopians are making their way back across the border every day—primarily through the checkpoints at Dewale and Galafi. This surge in migration follows a notice issued by the Ethiopian embassy in Djibouti advising undocumented migrants to leave the country voluntarily or risk forced repatriation.
The driving force behind this advisory appears to be an ultimatum from the Djiboutian government, which set a grace period for unregistered Ethiopian migrants to exit the country. This period, which allowed migrants to make their exit without immediate fear of detention, expired on May 3, 2025. The clampdown, while framed as an effort to reinforce immigration law, has the potential to uproot thousands of Ethiopians who have built lives in Djibouti, a country that has historically shown a degree of tolerance toward its undocumented population. Current estimates suggest that around 50,000 Ethiopians reside in Djibouti, many of whom work as laborers or vendors.
According to eyewitness accounts, the flow of migrants has been significant, with at least 150 Ethiopians leaving Djibouti daily. One construction worker, who requested anonymity, described the migrants as primarily laborers, vendors, and domestic workers who have been quietly living under a looming threat of detention long before the recent crackdown. He mentioned that, despite the absence of targeted round-ups by Djiboutian authorities, the climate of unease has pushed many to consider voluntary departure as the only viable option.
This situation is compounded by the fact that Djibouti lacks a robust mechanism for legalizing the status of undocumented Ethiopian migrants. While the country does offer a one-year entry visa tied to employment—primarily in its bustling port sector—other avenues for obtaining residence permits, such as through marriage to Djiboutian nationals, remain largely inaccessible for most migrants. The government’s stance raises questions about the long-term viability of the situation for those who have called Djibouti home for decades.
The predicament of Ethiopian migrants in Djibouti also plays into broader migration patterns across the region. Djibouti serves as a key transit point for Ethiopians aiming to reach the Middle East in search of economic opportunities or as a means of escaping conflict. Each year, many risk the dangerous journey across the Red Sea, often aboard fragile vessels that pose significant risks to their safety. Tragically, reports indicate that in March alone, numerous migrants, presumed to be mainly Ethiopian, drowned when their boats sank off the coast of Yemen.
Speaking to The Reporter, an Ethiopian truck driver who frequently travels the route to Djibouti shared that for many Ethiopians, embarking on the perilous sea journey becomes an unfortunate necessity. “Denied residence in Djibouti, many Ethiopians venture into the perilous and risky sea,” he said. The uncertainty of their fates looms large, even if they manage to reach Yemeni shores, as conditions there remain precarious.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the number of people successfully making the journey to Yemen has fluctuated significantly. In 2023, approximately 97,000 made the crossing, a striking increase compared to just two years earlier. However, tightening security and increased maritime patrols have contributed to a decline, bringing the figure down to around 61,000 in 2024.
Apart from the migration issue, Djibouti’s geopolitical significance in relation to Ethiopian trade continues to play a pivotal role. While Ethiopia is the most populous landlocked country globally, approximately 95 percent of its international trade passes through Djibouti’s ports. Over the last 30 years, this relationship has been crucial for Ethiopia’s economy. However, in recent times, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration has openly called for reducing dependency on Djibouti, a move that has sparked notable geopolitical tensions in the Horn of Africa.
In January 2024, a memorandum of understanding with the breakaway region of Somaliland led to diplomatic friction between Ethiopia and Somalia, which perceived the agreement as a direct challenge to its sovereignty. Although tensions have eased somewhat since then, the repercussions linger, with countries like Egypt leveraging the fallout to reinforce their own regional influence. Notably, an April visit by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to Djibouti yielded an MoU aimed at developing solar and wind power projects, a partnership that could extend Egypt’s geopolitical reach in the region.
The implications of these developments on Ethiopia’s energy exports to Djibouti remains to be seen. Observers express concerns about the evolving security landscape and how Egypt’s increasing presence could affect the fragile relationship between Djibouti and Ethiopia. Despite these complexities, the Djiboutian embassy in Addis Ababa has not responded to inquiries from The Reporter, further adding to the uncertainty surrounding the lives of thousands of Ethiopian migrants caught in this precarious situation.
