TADJOURA – Government officials and international experts concluded a high-level summit in Djibouti on Thursday with the adoption of the “Tadjoura Call to Action,” a strategic framework to manage the escalating migration crisis along the Eastern Route.
The meeting, organized by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the IOM, addressed what officials called a “humanitarian emergency” on the Red Sea.
Data presented at the summit revealed that over 500,000 migratory movements were recorded between the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula in 2025, with a third involving women and children.
“The Eastern Route remains one of the most dangerous corridors in the world,” said Djibouti’s Minister of Interior. Djibouti, which serves as the primary transit point for migrants heading to Yemen and Saudi Arabia, called for increased international funding to manage its overstretched reception centers.
The new agreement focuses on maritime security and “green jobs” for youth as a way to deter irregular migration. It also seeks to strengthen regional cooperation to dismantle human trafficking networks that operate with impunity across the Gulf of Aden.
