Women from Elwak in Kenya and Somalia have joined forces to advocate for peace and speak out against the alarming rise in Tahriib—the illegal migration of youth through dangerous routes stretching from Nairobi to Addis Ababa.
During a meeting organized by the Boresha Nabad women expressed their strong disapproval of the increasing impunity of traffickers after the infiltration of various networks, for instance, Magafe and Muqalas are disintegrating the social fabric of families as well as the main sources of the fanning of the border communities’ unrest.
Several participants recounted heartbreaking stories of young people who were recruited, abducted, injured, or left to die on the risky way. Many families, are experiencing mental and financial hardships as traffickers who take advantage of the dire situations and the lack of opportunities among the youth exploit them.
The ladies demanded cooperation across borders, conducting community sensitization activities, and having more support structures to protect the young people from the traffickers.
However, they are requesting and encouraging the authorities, the civil society sector, and development donors to step up efforts in breaking down the illegal trading groups and making the environment safer, hence, more sustainable, for the youth.
Based on what Boresha Nabad has observed, dealing with Tahriib ought to entail a multi-pronged approach to tackle it such as peacebuilding, economic empowerment as well as security further to improved coordination to reduce those trafficking routes that are thriving in the area.
