Four Ethiopian opposition parties have jointly expressed sorrow and outrage over the deaths of dozens of Ethiopian migrants who drowned off Yemen’s southern coast, blaming the tragedy on structural failures and political mismanagement at home.
In a statement issued Monday, the All Ethiopian Unity Party, Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party, Enat Party, and the Amhara Ghionawit Movement Party extended condolences to families of the victims and called for urgent national reflection.
The opposition groups linked the fatal incident to deep-rooted issues within Ethiopia, including youth unemployment, social inequality, and what they described as the ruling Prosperity Party’s war-driven governance style.
“This tragedy is a painful reminder of the desperation pushing our youth into dangerous journeys,” the statement said. “It is the direct result of hopelessness, misrule, and economic exclusion.”
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a boat carrying 154 migrants—mostly Ethiopians—capsized in rough seas off Yemen’s Abyan province. As of Sunday, 68 people were confirmed dead, including 54 Ethiopians and one Yemeni. The fate of 74 others remains unknown, while only 12 people survived.
The parties urged Ethiopian youth to resist the temptation to flee the country under such perilous conditions, even amid rising despair. They also criticized the government’s silence, noting that no official response had been issued by authorities as of Monday.
“This silence is telling. It reflects a leadership disconnected from the suffering of its people,” said a representative of the Enat Party.
The incident highlights the growing migration crisis in the Horn of Africa, where thousands of Ethiopians—especially from rural and conflict-affected areas—attempt to cross into the Arabian Peninsula each year, often through Yemen’s war-torn and unregulated coastlines.
Analysts say political instability, shrinking economic opportunities, and ethnic violence continue to fuel outward migration, even as risks increase.
