(01-05-23) DJIBOUTI – Djibouti’s government announced a large-scale anti-immigration operation on Sunday, leading to the arrest of approximately 3,000 people who will be deported. Interior Minister Nuh Hassan revealed that 220,000 people entered the country “illegally” in 2022 alone. With a population of about one million, Djibouti has become a transit route for migrants fleeing war and climate change disasters in search of better lives.
In a televised speech, Nuh said the government aims to protect “the safety and security of its people” and control the flow of immigrants. He reported that the army conducted an urgent operation on Sunday to combat crime and illegal goods trafficking in parts of Djibouti city. According to RTD state television, the 3,000 arrested individuals are being taken to deportation centres and will be sent back to their countries by truck. The origins of these people have not been disclosed.
Nuh indicated that operations will continue throughout Djibouti. Illegal immigrants working in the informal sector will be registered and paid for “legal activity,” provided the companies they work for inform the government. Those who are unemployed have been invited to return to their countries as soon as possible, with a 30-day deadline to comply.
“Illegal immigrants are a bomb that is about to explode in Djibouti, there are too many of them,” said Bilan, an unemployed 45-year-old Djiboutian who spoke to Safafa, declining to give his full name.
