Tragedy of a Somali Migrant: A Fatal Journey to Mayotte
Fathi Hussein, a 26-year-old beauty salon owner from Mogadishu, Somalia, lost her life in a devastating maritime tragedy while attempting to reach the French island of Mayotte. Her heartbroken family learned of her death from survivors who described a horrific 14-day ordeal at sea.
According to her stepsister Samira, Fathi died from extreme hunger and desperation during a perilous migration attempt. Survivors reported that passengers were forced to eat raw fish and drink seawater, with Fathi refusing these desperate measures. She reportedly began hallucinating before her body was thrown into the ocean.
The International Migration Organization (IMO) confirmed that over 70 people were on two small boats, resulting in 24 deaths and 48 survivors. This incident is part of a larger, deadly migration pattern where hundreds of migrants risk their lives annually trying to reach Mayotte, a small French island located 300km northwest of Madagascar.
Fathi’s journey began on November 1st when she flew from Mogadishu to Mombasa, Kenya, and then embarked on a boat journey across the Indian Ocean. Her family was shocked by her decision, as she had a successful business and lived comfortably in Mogadishu. She had secretly planned the trip, sharing details only with her younger sister.
The migration route involves complex and dangerous strategies. Some migrants travel by boat from Mombasa via the Comoros islands, while others with more resources fly to Ethiopia and Madagascar, where Somali passport holders can obtain visas on arrival. Their ultimate goal is to reach Mayotte, hoping to eventually access a French passport and potentially enter Europe.
Smugglers typically charge around $6,000 for the journey, with half paid upfront. In Fathi’s case, the smugglers claimed mechanical issues with the original boat and transferred passengers to two smaller vessels, promising a three-hour journey to Mayotte. Instead, the migrants were stranded at sea for 14 days.
Some survivors suspect the smugglers deliberately abandoned them after receiving payment. This is not an isolated incident; the IMO regional official noted that this year has been particularly deadly for migrants attempting this route.
The motivations for such risky journeys vary. For example, Khadar Mohamed, another migrant who survived the route, left Somalia due to threats from al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda affiliate that made conducting business impossible.
Somalia’s Foreign Affairs Minister has pledged to contact the survivors and arrange their return home. Fathi’s family has reported a suspected smuggler, who was briefly arrested but released on bail.
Samira, Fathi’s stepsister, is left with profound grief, wishing she could have understood her sister’s decision and said a proper goodbye. Her story represents the desperate circumstances and immense risks faced by migrants seeking a better life.
