Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>The Ethiopia–South Africa migration corridor has become one of Africa’s fastest-growing irregular migration systems. Hadiya migrants are central actors, moving through established channels across six transit countries. Despite increasing scholarly attention, research remains event-focused, emphasizing departure or return while neglecting full trajectories. This study reconstructs the trajectories of 634 Hadiya returnees from South Africa. The study used a retrospective Life History Calendar and a mixed-methods design. A total of 2176 migration trajectories across 34 origin–destination paths were identified and classified into four clusters: Direct Route (5.8%), Eastern Corridor (28.4%), Southern Corridor (53.4%), and Hybrid Route (12.4%). The Southern Corridor, followed through Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, and South Africa, accounted for the majority of flows. Qualitative evidence highlights broker guidance, transport costs, migrant networks, border accessibility, and safety concerns as key determinants of corridor choice. Economic inequality further shaped whether migrants relied on risky overland routes or safer, costlier air travel. Framed within a life-course perspective, the findings demonstrate that Hadiya migration constitutes a structured, socially organized system of mobility rather than spontaneous individual decision-making. The study underscores policy implications for regional cooperation, migrant protection, and reintegration support.</p>