Yemen recorded a sharp increase in the number of African migrants arriving on its shores in September 2025, with a 27% rise compared to the previous month, according to a new report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
In its latest publication, “Flow Monitoring of Arrivals,” released on Thursday, the IOM reported that 8,878 African migrants arrived in Yemen in September, up from 6,985 in August.
The IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) indicated that Ethiopians made up the vast majority of arrivals (97%, or 8,606 migrants), while Somalis accounted for 3% (272 migrants). The data further showed that 71% of the arrivals were men, 12% women, and 17% children.
The report noted that 55% of migrants departed from Somali shores, landing mainly in Abyan and Shabwa governorates (67% and 33%, respectively). Meanwhile, 40% came from Djibouti, arriving on the coasts of Taiz and Abyan, particularly in the districts of Dhobab and Ahwar. Additionally, 5% of migrants (441 individuals) entered Yemen through Shahan District in Al-Mahra Governorate, after being deported from Oman.
Conversely, the IOM teams recorded the departure of 1,250 Ethiopian migrants from Yemen during the same period, on return voyages across the Red Sea from Lahj Governorate to Obock, Djibouti.
