The Security-Migration Nexus in East Africa: How Conflict Drives Migration

This qualitative study investigates the complex causal pathways linking armed conflict to internal and cross-border migration in Ethiopia. It argues that the country's protracted and multi-layered conflicts—notably in Tigray, Oromia, and Amhara—act as primary drivers of displacement, creating a distinct security-migration nexus. Through thematic analysis of interview and documentary data, the research identifies key mechanisms, including direct violence, livelihood destruction, and the weaponisation of movement. The findings demonstrate how migration is both a consequence of insecurity and a factor that reshapes regional conflict dynamics. The article concludes that addressing forced migration in the Horn of Africa necessitates integrated conflict resolution and protection frameworks.