IOM Addresses Migrant Smuggling in Gulf of Aden for Somaliland Border Authorities

Moshi, Tanzania – The International Organization of Migration (IOM), through its African Capacity Building Centre (ACBC) organized a week-long training (1-5 April 2019) in Moshi, the United Republic of Tanzania, on Security Documents and Fraud Detection for nine immigration officials from Somaliland.

According to IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) figures, [1] Berbera and Bossaso constitute main routes for migrants entering Yemen through the Gulf of Aden irregularly. The reports additionally states that more than 99,000 migrants who have reached Yemen in 2017 made it through Somaliland and Puntland – making the region an important departure and transit point for human smuggling and trafficking.

The training focused on passport examination and detection of fraudulent travel documents with the aim of improving the management of mobility and guaranteeing human security by Somaliland border authorities in the Horn of Africa.

“Improved capacity in document examination is essential to support governments’ ongoing efforts to combat migrant smuggling at sea from the Horn of Africa towards the Middle East,” said El Mois Lideen Alla, Sudanese forensic lab expert and certified document examination trainer at the IOM ACBC during the training.

Understanding the importance and challenges of document fraud, being able to detect fraudulent documents, as well as mastering legal procedures in the event of their detection were the main objectives of this training which was organized under the project “Enhancing Migration Management in African States through Capacity Building on Integrated Border Management and Countering Irregular Migration”, funded by the Ministry of Justice and Security Repatriation and Departure Service (RDS) of the Netherlands.

“IOM is very grateful to the RDS of the Netherlands for funding this project that is positively contributing to the global efforts in combating human trafficking and smuggling,” said Dr. Qasim Sufi, IOM Chief of Mission in Tanzania.