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Nearly 50 Somali survivors of a migrant boat tragedy arrived in Mogadishu on Saturday, where they were greeted by government officials. The group had been rescued after two boats they were traveling on capsized off the coast of Madagascar, leaving around 25 people dead. Emotional scenes unfolded at the airport as survivors were reunited with family members. Haboon Deeqa, whose sister perished in the tragedy, expressed her grief: “I send my condolences to those who died, including my sister Hanan. I’m relieved my brother Ahmed has returned safely,” she said. “I’m very thankful to everyone who helped bring them home.” The survivors had spent nearly a month at sea, hoping to reach the French island of Mayotte, about 1,600 kilometers away. “We were 75 in total, and 28 people died. My cousin was among the victims. Forty-seven of us, myself included, survived,” said Ahmed Hussein Mahadalle. Many young Somalis are driven to undertake such perilous journeys due to unemployment, poverty, and drought in the Horn of Africa, hoping for a better life in Europe. Somalia’s foreign affairs minister recently urged youth to consider the risks and prioritize their safety. Maryan Yasin, Somalia’s presidential advisor on refugee affairs, expressed relief at the group’s safe return and emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing the root causes of such dangerous migration. “They assured me they will never take the same risk again,” she said, adding that solving the issue will require a collective effort. The United Nations has raised alarms about the increasing numbers fleeing conflict and drought in the Horn of Africa.