The flow of African migrants into Yemen through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden continues despite the intensification of fighting and rising security and military risks along Yemen’s coasts. Human-smuggling networks are exploiting deteriorating conditions and weak maritime monitoring to organise dangerous journeys to the country, as threats increase along the western coast and in the Bab el-Mandeb area.
Sharp rise in arrivals during September
Data from the International Organization for Migration’s monthly report showed that Yemen received 11,841 African migrants during September, bringing the total number of arrivals since the beginning of 2026 to 134,099. The continuation of this movement is increasing pressure on the authorities responsible for securing the coasts and confronting smuggling networks amid ongoing military tensions in coastal areas.
The arrivals followed three main routes: 71% travelled from the Djibouti coast to Abyan and Taiz governorates. Another 26% came from the Somali coast and reached Shabwa governorate, while the remaining 3% entered through Oman into Al Mahrah governorate. Men accounted for 70% of all migrants who arrived in Yemen during the period covered by the report, while children accounted for 15%, the same proportion recorded among women.
Risks of irregular migration along Yemen’s coasts
These figures reflect the continued movement of irregular migrants into a country itself suffering the consequences of war and deteriorating humanitarian and security conditions. The flow of migrants coincides with military escalation and growing threats to shipping near Yemen’s coasts, particularly along the western coast and in the Bab el-Mandeb.
This compounds the dangers surrounding sea journeys and allows smuggling networks to exploit weak monitoring and the difficulty of tracking and controlling maritime routes. Smuggling networks push migrants to cross the sea on perilous journeys, often aboard overcrowded boats not equipped for safe navigation.
The risks facing migrants are not confined to the sea crossing. They also include the possibility of exploitation and abuse during the journey and after arrival in transit and reception areas. These risks are aggravated by limited capacity to respond and provide protection to migrants.
Victims of boat capsizing off Djibouti
The continued crossings also raise concerns that Yemen’s coasts could become an open corridor for human-smuggling networks, which are taking advantage of the security situation and the difficulty of monitoring the routes used to reach the country. In an incident underscoring the dangers of this route, at least 139 migrants recently died after a boat capsized off the coast of Djibouti, while 84 others remained missing.
The boat was carrying about 350 people on a journey from Djibouti to Yemen. The continued arrival of migrants alongside the military escalation adds a new challenge for the authorities responsible for coastal security.
It also highlights the need to tighten maritime monitoring, pursue smuggling networks and strengthen regional co-ordination, alongside providing humanitarian protection for migrants during the crossing and after their arrival in Yemen.
