Security forces in Somaliland have started an operation targeting Ethiopian migrants without proper documentation, weeks after similar actions were carried out in Puntland.
On Sunday, police conducted patrols in Hargeisa’s marketplaces, detaining individuals found without legal residency status. While some Ethiopian migrants hold refugee cards, visas, or work permits, a large number enter the region illegally each year.
Authorities in Somaliland have yet to issue an official statement on the crackdown. Many of those affected are from Ethiopia’s Oromo community, often working in low-paying jobs or relying on street begging.
In Puntland, authorities have also tightened immigration enforcement, citing security risks. Officials have linked undocumented migrants to criminal activities and ongoing conflicts in the Al-Miskaat mountains, where operations against militant groups are underway.