Somalia Becomes Third Largest Host of Ethiopian Refugees in the Region
Mogadishu, 2 September 2026
A new UNHCR report reveals Somalia now hosts over 23,000 Ethiopian refugees, making it the region’s third-largest host as conflict and natural disasters drive cross-border displacement.
A Shifting Refugee Landscape in the Horn of Africa
According to a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) report published on 28 August 2026, with data capturing the situation up to July 2026, Somalia has officially become the third-largest host country for Ethiopian refugees and asylum seekers in the region [1]. The report highlights that nearly 155,000 Ethiopians are currently seeking refuge across six neighbouring nations, with the exact total of registered individuals standing at 154756 [1]. Within this regional framework, Sudan remains the primary host, accommodating 63,954 Ethiopian refugees, while Kenya holds the second-largest population at 43,348 individuals [1].
Driving Forces and Shared Regional Pressures
The escalation of regional displacement is primarily driven by ongoing conflicts, persistent insecurity, and severe natural disasters [1]. These factors have severely compromised border safety and forced thousands of families to flee their homes in search of security [1]. Somalia now hosts 23,645 Ethiopian refugees and asylum seekers, positioning it ahead of Djibouti, which hosts 15,310, South Sudan with 8,484, and Eritrea with 15 [1]. This shifting dynamic places a shared responsibility on local host communities, particularly in border areas and refugee hubs such as Kenya’s Kakuma, where families with cross-border ties face the direct consequences of regional instability [GPT].
Ethiopia as Both a Source and Host Nation
Paradoxically, while thousands of Ethiopians seek safety abroad, Ethiopia itself serves as a massive sanctuary, hosting nearly 1.1 million refugees and asylum seekers from neighbouring countries [1]. The largest contingent of refugees in Ethiopia originates from South Sudan, numbering 483,769, followed by 362,091 from Somalia, 171,362 from Eritrea, and 97,985 from Sudan [1]. This complex web of mutual displacement highlights how deeply intertwined the security and humanitarian conditions are across the Horn of Africa [GPT].
Internal Displacement and Institutional Oversight
In addition to cross-border movement, internal displacement remains a critical crisis within Ethiopia, where approximately 1.9 million people are displaced inside their own country [1]. Out of these internal displacements, conflict has forced 1.7 million people to flee, while natural disasters account for another 173,000 displaced individuals [1]. To manage this vast humanitarian landscape, the UNHCR Regional Bureau for Eastern and Southern Africa (RBESA) in Nairobi, restructured in October 2025 to merge the East, Horn of Africa, and Great Lakes bureau with the Southern Africa bureau, provides strategic oversight and technical support across 25 countries in the region [2].