The reasons for Somali immigrants preference for living in Yemen rather than returning to Somalia

Somalia has witnessed several civil wars, leading to the forced migration of millions of Somalis at home and to other countries. Thanks to its geographical proximity and the open-door policy of its government toward Somali migrants, Yemen was among the states that Somalis migrated to for seeking stability or transit. This thesis primarily aims to explore political, economic, and social factors that made Somali migrants prefer staying in Mukalla city, Hadhramaut Governorate, Yemen, over going back to Somalia, although Yemen is also a conflict zone. Furthermore, this study is an exploratory research laying the groundwork for more scientifically and methodically focused studies on Somali migrants, especially in Mukalla city, and opens the door for further migration studies. Thematic analysis was employed as a research methodology to explore the desired results. Data were mainly collected through interviews with some Somali migrants living in Mukalla city. Their responses were analyzed, categorized into political, economic, and social factors, and then presented through the lens of conflict theory, in order to explore the reasons behind Somalis fleeing conflict in Somalia to Yemen, despite Yemen also being a conflict zone. Then, the findings are compared with the literature review in the analysis of the study according to the methodology used. The thesis concluded that Somali migrants prefer staying in Mukalla due to several factors. Politically, quest for security and stability, fear of conflict in Somalia upon return, and the apprehension of becoming victims of that conflict were counted. Economically, the relatively better living conditions in Mukalla compared to Somalia, international aid, and employment opportunities ensuring a decent livelihood were influential. Socially, social stability, which means a lack of racial discrimination observed in Mukalla city, respectful and tolerant treatment from the local community, and some climatic and cultural similarities with Somalia contribute to their preference for staying in the city. This study serves as a starting point for more in-depth examination of the situation of the Somali migrants in Mukalla and paves the way for future studies focusing on their living conditions.