With a civil war dating back to the 1990s and relentless extreme weather events, Somalis are increasingly embarking on dangerous migrations.
In 2021, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimated two million Somalis had left their homeland in search of a better life elsewhere; however, this figure is likely to be higher as climate disasters and extremist violence continue to displace an unknown number of people across the country.
Drawn by the hope of being granted asylum and escaping from poverty and instability, more and more Somali nationals embark on the Mayotte route.
Earlier in the year, French authorities estimated over 100,000 migrants to live on the small island in total, though it is unclear how many of them came from Somalia.
Since the island was devastated by Cyclone Chido earlier in December, it may be long before authorities establish how many migrants remain there, and what their nationalities are, as many of them are feared to have died in the storm.
The woman who would do it all again
Idil Abdullahi Goley is just one of many who have sought to reach the island of Mayotte, which is considered part of the European Union, as it is administered by France.
The 28-year-old mother of three borrowed money from relatives to pursue a better life in Mayotte, hoping to repay them once she succeeded.
Her journey to the EU began with a dream and a wad of borrowed cash paid out to smugglers.
Along the way, she would see some 25 people dying right in front of her — some in her own arms. Goley herself only narrowly escaped death.
But in the end, Goley would find herself back in Mogadishu, the starting point of her journey — without ever reaching the French island.
She came back home plagued with nightmares; still, she says it is a journey that she would risk taking again, as she has started planning another journey on the same route.
Credit: Infomigrants
