Puntland VP Warns Youth on Deadly Migration Routes, Tightens Passport Rules

GOOBJOOG NEWS | GAROWE: Puntland’s Deputy President Ilyaas Osman Lugatoor has issued a stark warning to young Somalis about the mounting risks of irregular migration, saying the region will enforce stricter passport vetting to stem human trafficking.

Addressing recent university graduates, Lugatoor said human trafficking networks have intensified their recruitment of youth, pushing many into perilous journeys that have left some stranded abroad and others dead at sea.

He stressed that protecting young people from these risks has become a top priority for his administration.

Lugatoor said the government will now require anyone under 40 applying for a passport to explain the purpose of their travel and demonstrate that they are not being lured into trafficking routes.

“Any person under the age of 40 applying for a passport must explain the reason for their application. If they are travelling abroad, we need to understand the purpose of their journey,” he said.

The deputy president’s message reflects growing concern over the rising number of young Somalis attempting illegal crossings to Europe and the Middle East, many of whom fall victim to smugglers or become trapped in unfamiliar countries with little support.

Officials say the tighter controls aim not only to disrupt trafficking networks but also to push young people toward safer, legal pathways and discourage decisions made under false promises of opportunity.