By Adan Mohamed - Reporter
24 November 2025 - On Monday, women from the twin border towns of Elwak in Kenya and Elwak in Somalia united in a powerful cross-border gathering to confront the escalating crisis of tahriib – the deadly illegal migration of young people through perilous routes.
For years, governments, working closely with local communities across the region, have been striving to dismantle illegal migration networks that follow a well-established route through Nairobi, Addis Ababa, and Tripoli before reaching Europe.
During the meeting, the women highlighted the devastating impact of human trafficking networks - including magafe and muqalas - on families and communities.
Magafe refer to people, who lure young people and end up kidnaping these trafficking migrants. Magafe is a criminal network that human rights defenders claim it operates mainly from Libya.
Muqalas on the other hand, refer to people who help young people travel by guiding them through the journey.
Women shared heartbreaking personal stories of young people who had been recruited, abducted, or injured while attempting to migrate abroad, underscoring the severe human cost of these perilous journeys.
One mother tearfully recounted losing her son to magafe violence in Libya, while another described how her 17-year-old son was rescued from a similar fate with the help of the local community.
In Elwak, Mandera South, more than 30% of young people are risking their lives in search of what they believe will be better opportunities abroad.
In the past two years alone, over 100 young people have attempted irregular migration through unsafe routes.
Ms Habiba Sheikh Ali from Elwak, Kenya, expressed deep concern about the growing trend.
“As mothers, we must remain vigilant. We need to stay close to our children and guide them so they can build a better life here without risking death on dangerous routes,” said Ms Habiba.
She emphasised the vital role of families and communities in protecting young people.
“We cannot allow our children to chase hope through death routes,” she added.
“Their future is worth protecting right here at home.”
She further stressed that preventing tahriib requires stronger coordination among parents, community structures, and government institutions, as well as improved social media monitoring, youth mentorship, and awareness campaigns.
In a powerful display of unity, women from both Kenya and Somalia pledged to strengthen community vigilance, share information about traffickers and recruiters, protect vulnerable youth, and support peacebuilding initiatives.
They called for sustained cross-border collaboration to ensure young people have access to safe education, meaningful employment, and opportunities for personal growth.
Ms Abdia Sheikh from Women for Peace, assured continued cooperation in empowering mothers across Mandera County.
“We will sensitise women and raise awareness to stop these harmful practices that are destroying the future of our youth,” she said.
The Women for Change engagement in Elwak marks a historic milestone – the first of its kind in both towns.
By empowering women to lead dialogue on reconciliation, youth protection, and community cohesion, the initiative is strengthening resilience, shared responsibility, and hope for a safer and more secure future for all communities along the Elwak corridor.
