Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Hargeisa (Agenzia Fides) - Many young people of the Republic of Somaliland continue to emigrate illegally, mainly because of lack of work. They pass through Ethiopia, Sudan and Libya towards Europe. According to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Activities there are no precise figures, but it is estimated that in the last three months of 2011 only 150 young people had emigrated, compared to 300/350 in the last three months of this year. Between January and November 2011 about 150 young people of Somaliland were repatriated, captured by Ethiopian authorities along the border of Ethiopia and Sudan. According to immigration officials, in the first 11 months of 2012 200 in the border town of Tog-Wajale, bordering Ethiopia and Somaliland were repatriated. The high unemployment rate is one of the main factors of this phenomenon, even if it involves serious risks of abuse, debt, deportation and detention for these victims. In addition, young people with a higher education are much more likely to leave the country. In fact, while the first years of study they are happy and full of enthusiasm for the future, when they are about to finish they lose confidence because they see their peers who have graduated unemployed and are thinking of emigrating. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 04/12/2012)
