77,000 African Migrants Arrived in Yemen in the First Half of 2023

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported a threefold increase in the number of African migrants arriving in Yemen during the first half of 2023 compared to the past three years. According to an IOM report, the number of African migrants who arrived in Yemen until June 2023 reached a record high, surpassing 77,000 migrants. This number exceeded the previous year's total of 73,000 migrants and the year before, which had only 27,000 arrivals. In 2020, 37,000 migrants arrived in Yemen. African migrants travel to Yemen, intending to use it as a transit point to Saudi Arabia, where they can find job opportunities.

New negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia regarding the cessation of the war in Yemen are ongoing, said Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir Abdollahian on Friday. During a press conference in Lebanon, he emphasized Iran's continuous call for dialogue to end the Yemeni conflict. He expressed hope that ongoing discussions, including negotiations between the Houthi group and the internationally recognized Yemeni government in Muscat, Oman, would lead to the cessation of the war that has been ongoing for nine years.

On Saturday, the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate condemned the kidnapping of journalist Mujahid Al-Qab, by gunmen affiliated with the commander of the Ninth Giants Brigade in Hodeidah province.   The Syndicate said in a statement that Al-Qab had been assaulted in his home and then arrested and imprisoned in Al-Khawkhah Security Administration. The Syndicate called on the security authorities in Al-Khawkhah District to quickly release the former journalist, investigate the incident, and punish those involved.

Saudi authorities arrested 15,351 people in one week for breaching residency, work, and border security regulations, according to Saudi media reports. A total of 9,124 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 4,284 were held over illegal border crossing attempts and a further 1,943 for labor-related issues. The report showed that among the 579 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 54 percent were Yemeni, 44 percent Ethiopian, and 2 percent were of other nationalities.