By Asha Elmi - Reporter
MOGADISHU, Somalia, September 16 2026 - Former Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre accused the federal government of failing to address displacement and irregular migration, saying economic hardship and lack of hope were driving Somalis abroad.
Khayre made the accusations in a video posted on his social media accounts on Wednesday, saying he was citing data published by United Nations agencies.
Referring to a report by the International Organization for Migration, Khayre said 257,135 cross-border movements were recorded at seven monitoring points in Somalia between February and December 2025.
He said 74% of the recorded movements were departures from Somalia, while 26% were arrivals. The figures represent movements recorded at the seven monitoring points and not the total number of individuals who left the country.
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Khayre also said 680,000 people were displaced in 2025, while nearly 217,000 were displaced between April and June 2026.
The former prime minister accused the government of worsening conditions for vulnerable communities instead of implementing a resettlement plan and assisting displaced families.
Khayre also said 55 young Somalis had died the previous week while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea between Libya and Italy, describing the incident as a consequence of growing hopelessness among young people.
He called on Somali communities and international partners to support people affected by displacement, hunger, disease and homelessness.