MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) – Idil Abdullahi Goley's journey in search of a better life in Europe began in… Somalia with a $6,500 payment to local smugglers. It ended a month later with fellow migrants around her dying at seaone of them screaming and reciting the Muslim call to faith.
The death of 25 migrants last month in boats off the island of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean brought to light another way that some in Africa are taking dangerous claims for Europe.
Goley was one of the 48 people rescued. She spoke to the Associated Press about the journey that thousands of Somalis embark on every year terrorist attacks and climate shock destroy hopes and livelihoods at home.
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Some Somalis head to the Gulf countries via the Red Sea and Yemen. Others, like Goley, play on a voyage further south, to the island lands of France Maigue in the Indian Ocean, the poorest region in the European Union.
Somalis are among around 100,000 migrants living in Mayotte, according to the French authorities. The migrants are part of affected communities Wish Cyclone it melted entire neighborhoods on December 14.
The International Organization for Migration has estimated that two million people migrated from Somalia in 2021 in search of work, the most recent data available.
Goley, 28, heard about the smugglers from friends who traveled the route and collected the $6,500 fee from her small restaurant business in the capital, Mogadishu, and from her brother and mother. She hoped to reach Europe and pay them back. She left behind her three small children.
Her journey began with a flight from Mogadishu to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. She and others then took a bus to the port city of Mombasa, where they left in fishing boats for Mayotte, more than 620 miles (997 kilometers) away. They hoped to seek asylum there.
After three days at sea, the group of about 70 migrants were transferred to smaller boats whose engines began to fail. The smugglers said they would fix the engines and take them away on another boat, leaving the migrants stranded without water or food. They started catching fish and collecting rainwater to survive.
It was almost the cyclone season, and the waves were tired.
Goley said she tried to save the life of a child whose mother was also on board but was struggling.
“But she died right in front of me. We could not hold on to her body for long and had to throw it into the sea to prevent decomposition, as more people were dying around us,” she said.
During 13 days of hunger, thirst and heat, two of Goley's friends also died. She held one in her lap as she passed.
“The other man shouted for help. I couldn't help her and she died shortly after, crying out loud, reciting the Shahada,” said Goley.
She said the ordeal ended when a fishing boat appeared on the horizon and the survivors called for help. They offered the fishermen $100 to rescue them and they were taken to a sports facility in Nosy Be in northern Madagascar.
The migrations were returned early December by scheduled flight.
Back home, Goley's mother feared the worst. She could not eat, she had lost 20 kilograms (44 pounds).
“When I got home, my mom couldn't believe it until she heard my voice and saw me in person,” Goley said.
As she and the survivors arrived in Mogadishu, the Somali president's special envoy on refugee affairs expressed hope for the future and said the government would help.
“They assured me that they will not take the same risk again,” said Maryan Yasin.
But Goley said she plans to try the same route again, despite having nightmares about her ordeal. The hardship in Somalia remains the same, she said – and she paid the smugglers' fee.
“Even if he takes me to prison, I believe I can still get a better life than the one I have here,” she said.
Meanwhile, her mother fears that she will never return this time.
Those who survived have no decision as they mourn.
Ahmed Hussein Mahadalle, 26, had been watching helplessly when his sister Hanan, 21, died. There is nothing compared to the pain, he said.
His other sister, Haboon Hussein Mahadall, was grateful for her brother's safe return, although he has plans to try again.
“Hanan was confident and attentive. She met with grace,” Haboon said, with tears. “They say good people don't live long, and my sister embodied all the virtues I can't begin to summarize.”
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The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP standards for working with philanthropy, list of sponsors and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
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AP's coverage of migration continued at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
