MOGADISHU, Somalia — A new investigation by SOLDa Safety Network has uncovered evidence of a large-scale human smuggling operation based in Mogadishu, allegedly trafficking Somali youth through an organised route that runs from Somalia to Egypt and onward to Libya, where victims reportedly face captivity, violent abuse, and ransom extortion.

According to SOLDa’s findings, the network appears to be well-structured, financially resourced and politically protected, raising serious questions about accountability and enforcement across Somalia’s key transit points, particularly Mogadishu’s main airport.

In a major and controversial finding, SOLDa Safety Network says its investigation indicates that some senior Somali officials may be linked to the network, allegedly reaching "understandings” with trafficking groups to allow the movement of victims with minimal disruption.

SOLDa did not publicly name individuals, citing safety concerns and the ongoing nature of its monitoring work, but it described a system in which trafficking operations function openly while law enforcement interventions have declined.

SOLDa’s report highlights a notable shift at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, where officials previously intercepted and detained youth attempting irregular migration.

"Earlier, as many as 35 young people per day were reportedly intercepted at the airport for trafficking-related travel attempts,” SOLDa noted. "However, such interceptions have now significantly reduced or stopped altogether.”

The decline has intensified speculation among families, activists and community networks over whether traffickers have acquired more sophisticated facilitation at airports and within travel processing mechanisms.

SOLDa states that victims are often moved using Ethiopian Airlines, transiting through Addis Ababa and later reaching Cairo, before being transferred into smuggling networks that funnel them toward Tripoli, Libya.

This route is considered among the most dangerous corridors for migrants across North and East Africa, as victims may become trapped in trafficking hubs where multiple armed actors profit from forced labour, detention, and extortion.

The investigation further reports that thousands of Somali youth have disappeared along these routes, with families unable to confirm whether loved ones are alive or dead.

SOLDa describes a "pattern of silence” after the journey reaches Libya, where communication may abruptly stop and victims’ phone numbers go inactive.

"This tragedy is not only a migration story — it has become a national humanitarian and security crisis,” the report stated.

Ransom and torture: $16,000 per person

One of the most alarming findings involves reports that victims are handed over to armed kidnappers who demand ransom.

SOLDa says it has documented cases where abductors demand $16,000 per victim, forcing youth to call families while being tortured.

Videos reportedly recorded by kidnappers show victims being beaten, humiliated and threatened, while relatives are pressured to send large sums through informal money transfer systems.

Human trafficking experts warn that such ransom-based trafficking models have expanded rapidly, because they generate consistent profits even when migration routes become restricted.

an independent national investigation into trafficking and airport facilitation

prosecution of traffickers, facilitators and any complicit officials

enhanced airport monitoring and anti-corruption controls

structured victim support systems, including tracing mechanisms for missing youth

international coordination with Egyptian and Libyan authorities to break the transit chain

SOLDa also urged stronger protection for whistleblowers and civil society actors working to expose trafficking networks.

As Somalia continues to face insecurity, economic hardship and youth unemployment, irregular migration remains a growing reality — but SOLDa warns that trafficking networks are now exploiting desperation with industrial-scale organisation.

The investigation concludes that the current trafficking system has moved beyond individual smugglers, evolving into what SOLDa describes as a coordinated criminal enterprise that requires an equally coordinated response.

SOLDa Safety Network is a civil society organisation focused on digital safety, reporting mechanisms, and community-based protection initiatives. The organisation conducts monitoring and documentation of high-risk cross-border exploitation trends impacting Somali communities.

By Dahir Alasow