Monthly January 2025

This monthly press review covers Eurafrican migration control, migration and displacement in African countries and news on the European border regime. In case there is a news item, report, or campaign you would like to flag for in next month’s review please write us to: migr-contr@ffm-online.org or on Twitter @MigControl

Also see Migreurop Revue de Presse Décembre 2024

Special: Trump

31-01.25 NYT: Trump’s Deportations Only Work if Countries Agree to Take Their Citizens Back: Sending people to another country requires bilateral negotiations and diplomatic strong arming.

29.01.25 Guardian: Trump orders opening of migrant detention center at Guantánamo Bay: President signs executive order instructing preparation of facility to house 30,000 immigrants at US naval base in Cuba

26.01.25 Guardian: Trump’s Gaza proposal rejected by allies and condemned as ethnic cleansing plan: Donald Trump’s proposal that large numbers of Palestinians should leave Gaza to “just clean out” the whole strip has been rejected by US allies in the region and attacked as dangerous, illegal and unworkable by lawyers and activists.

26.01.25 NYT: Trump Administration Begins Immigration Arrests in Chicago: Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a statement on Sunday night that it had made 956 arrests on Sunday, though it was unclear how many of them were in Chicago. Local officials in Chicago said they had not been involved in the operations.

Also see NYT 31.01.25: Trump Raises New Threat to Sanctuary Cities: Blocking Transportation Dollars; taz 27.01.25: Ein eisiger Wind weht durch Chicago: Die Stadt galt lange als sicherer Ort für Migranten. Jetzt beginnen hier Trumps Abschiebeaktionen. Viele Latinos sind in Panik, Sozialarbeiter versuchen sie auf das bisher Unvorstellbare vorzubereiten Am Morgen melden die Nachrichten, Trump erlaube Festnahmen von Migranten jetzt auch in Schulen, Krankenhäusern und Kirchen. In den USA leben grob geschätzt 14 Millionen Menschen ohne geregelten Aufenthaltsstatus. Etwa 60 Prozent von ihnen haben keine Papiere. Die restlichen 40 Prozent fallen in unterschiedliche rechtliche Kategorien; Tagesspiegel 22.01.25: „Nicht aufmachen, nichts unterschreiben“: So bereiten sich Migranten auf Trumps Abschiebepläne vor: Bei Obama waren es fünf Millionen Einwanderer in acht Jahren, bei Biden zwei Millionen. Unter Trump wurden laut offiziellen Zahlen des Innenministeriums 1,8 Millionen Menschen ausgewiesen. Aber seine Rhetorik und Methoden sind brutaler.

25.01.25 AJE: US suspends new funds for aid programmes, excepting Israel and Egypt: The administration of United States President Donald Trump has announced a freeze on almost all new funding for foreign assistance programmes, with exceptions for allies Israel and Egypt. The order from the US State Department on Friday also includes exceptions for emergency food programmes, but not health programmes that supporters say provide vital, life-saving services.

Also see AJE 31.01.25: Which countries will Trump’s foreign aid suspension hurt most; TNH29.01.25: What to make of the Trump aid freeze chaos?: One by one this week, US-funded frontline aid programmes were shuttering clinics, classrooms, and other services as the impacts of US President Donald Trump’s aid freeze cascaded down. Then, a late 28 January memo from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, labelled as “an additional waiver of the pause”, appeared to backtrack – a little. The result?; ISS 17.01.25: What does Trump’s likely Africa team say about policy direction?: ‘Trump 2.0 will be very different from Trump 1.0,’ with even more focus on strategic competition with global powers – and even less focus on human rights, humanitarian aid and the environment.

All Africa

14.01.25 ACLED: Regional Overview Africa January 2025: In this Regional Overview covering December 2024:
Cameroon: Islamist abductions escalate in the Extreme North
Democratic Republic of Congo: Rwandan military re-engages in violence in North Kivu
Nigeria: Targeted military offensives fail to curtail violence in Katsina and Zamfara
Sahel: Regional security challenges grow after ECOWAS approves the withdrawal of Sahelian states
Somalia: Clashes in Jubaland signal a deepening constitutional crisis
Sudan: SAF and RSF struggle over al-Jazirah state

North Africa:

Egypt

09.01.25 NYT: Egypt’s Economy Is Damaged. It Sees a Scapegoat, and a Potential Fix, in Refugees: Palestinians, Sudanese and Syrians fleeing war have found a home in the country. But Cairo says newcomers are straining resources and is seeking financial help from the West.

Also see eurobserver 21.01.25: Egypt demands more EU support on migration as it shores up regional role

Libya

10.01.25 Guardian: Libya expels 600 Nigeriens in ‘dangerous and traumatising’ desert journey: The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) confirmed 613 people, all Nigerien nationals, arrived in the desert town of Dirkou in Niger last weekend in a convoy of trucks. They were among a large number of migrant workers rounded up by the authorities in Libya over the past month.
“This is something new. There was one expulsion of 400 people last July, but this convoy is the largest number to date,” said Azizou Chehou, of the migrant distress response charity Alarm Phone Sahara.

Morocco

23.01.25 L’Observateur: Bilan 2024. 78.685 tentatives d’émigration irrégulière avortées au Maroc: C’est le bilan annoncé par le Ministère de l’Intérieur. Selon ce dernier, 58 % des migrants en situation irrégulière proviennent des pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest, 12 % des pays du Maghreb et 9 % des régions d’Afrique de l’Est et d’Afrique Centrale. Le Ministère de l’Intérieur annonce par ailleurs que 332 réseaux de trafic migratoire ont été démantelés au cours de 2024.

06.01.25 JA: Au Sahel, le Maroc a su profiter du vide laissé par l’effacement de l’Algérie: Depuis l’arrivée au pouvoir des juntes militaires au Mali, au Burkina Faso ou au Niger, Alger perd du terrain dans la région sur le plan diplomatique. Un recul qui permet à Rabat de marquer des points.

Also see rfi 03.01.25: Mali accuses Algeria of fuelling Sahel insecurity by supporting Tuareg rebels

02.01.25 IPG: Angeschlagenes Image: Die Migrationsdebatte in Deutschland wird in Marokko sehr genau beobachtet – und schreckt Fachkräfte ab. Der Weg nach Kanada ist oftmals kürzer als der in die EU.

Tunisia

27.01.25 New Arab: Tunisia parliament wants to legalise pro-Saied deportation of migrants law: The move follows government claims last year of success in the "voluntary" repatriation of more than 7,000 migrants. However, rights groups have expressed concern that the proposed legislation could violate international migration agreements, to which Tunisia is a signatory. In a press statement, the Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights has slammed the proposal as unethical and contradictory, accusing the government of using the bill as a backdoor to formalise its ongoing practice of forced deportations. By the end of 2024, government figures estimate that over 20,000 irregular migrants from 22 African countries were living in the Sfax Al-Amra district.

02.01.25 AJE: At least 27 people killed, dozens rescued after two shipwrecks off Tunisia: All the victims and those rescued were from sub-Saharan African countries, says director of civil protection in Sfax. The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) noted that “between 600 and 700” people were killed or missing in shipwrecks off Tunisia in 2024, compared with more than 1,300 in 2023.

East Africa

Erithrea

20.01.25 Guardian: ‘It was almost a relief when someone died’: former prisoners on the torture and terror of Eritrea’s secret prisons: Those who have escaped one of the world’s most repressive states give a rare glimpse into their horrific ordeal in the country’s vast gulag system

Kenya

22.01.25 Africa Report: Kenya: Growing expansion of Chinese‑owned stores stirs unease: The expansion of China Square, which sells low-priced goods – as well as the presence of Chinese hawkers in the streets of Nairobi – have sparked negative reactions from local small-scale traders.

Somalia

15.01.25 AJE: ‘We’re not pirates’, say hijackers who seized Chinese ship off Somali coast: After seven-week hijack, Puntland locals say they are victims of foreign trawlers. But China calls the attack ‘vicious’. The attack on the ship has also shone a light on growing frustrations among angry young local men in coastal communities who feel that foreign boats are taking what is theirs, and who believe that they are justified in hijacking vessels.

12.01.25 Guardian: Somalia and Ethiopia agree to restore diplomatic ties after year-long rift: Somalia and Ethiopia have agreed to restore diplomatic representation in their respective capitals, more than a year after Somalia severed ties over a sea access agreement landlocked Ethiopia signed with the separatist northern Somali region of Somaliland.
In a joint statement after an unexpected visit by Somalia’s president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, to Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, both countries committed to “restore and enhance bilateral relations through full diplomatic representation in their respective capitals”.

Sudan

26.01.25 Guardian: Scores killed in hospital attack in Sudan’s besieged El Fasher, says WHO: About 70 people, including patients, believed to have been killed in attack blamed on rebel Rapid Support Forces

23.01.25 AJE: Sudan’s army carries out ethnic killings in Gezira state: Al Jazeera’s authentication agency, Sanad, verified four graphic videos which show men in army camouflage either celebrating the killing of dozens of young men in civilian clothes or abusing civilians. Two of the videos appear to capture the same incident: Soldiers standing over dozens of bodies in blood-soaked clothes, none of whom appear to be combatants. Al Jazeera could not verify the identity of the victims in the videos nor the total number of people who have died in the recent spate of ethnic killings. Yet, local monitors believe that dozens - perhaps hundreds - have been executed so far.

20.01.12 taz: Südsudan als neues Opfer des Sudankrieges: Wechselseitige Gewalt treibt Südsudan ins Chaos. Das Land hängt ökonomisch von Sudans Regierung ab – aber hat sich politisch mit der aufständischen RSF-Miliz verbündet

16.01.25 NYT: Sudan’s Military Has Used Chemical Weapons Twice, U.S. Officials Say: The determination came as the United States announced sanctions against the Sudanese military chief, saying there was strong evidence of atrocities in the country.

14.01.25 AJE: Sudan faces possible Darfur division as war progresses, say analysts: The RSF is entrenched in the western region, which is nearly the size of France, even as the army advances across other parts of the country, leading to a divide that could become more established. Analysts said that if that happens, not only could the country be marred by more localised conflicts, it could also see a further collapse of the state.

11.01.25 Guardian: Sudan’s army recaptures Wad Madani from rebel Rapid Support Forces: Strategic city fell into control of RSF, which has been accused of genocide by the US, in December 2023

10.01.25 Guardian: ‘If you are black, you are finished’: the ethnically targeted violence raging in Sudan: Refugees tell of attacks on darker-skinned people and non-Arab groups by Rapid Support Forces and its allies in Darfur

08.01.25 AJE: Sudan’s military pushes back rebels in second city of Omdurman: Army takes control of RSF territories in Mansoura, Murabaat and Elfitihab, and seizes weapons and ammunition depot.

07.01.25 Guardian: US declares Sudan’s paramilitary forces have committed genocide during civil war: Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, announced the determination on Tuesday while imposing sanctions on the RSF commander Mohammad Hamdan Daglo – known as Hemedti – for his role in what he described as “systematic atrocities”, many perpetrated in west Darfur.

Also see NYT 07.01.25: Disaster by the Numbers: The Crisis in Sudan: The United States just formally declared that genocide has taken place in the northeast African nation, but the calamity there dates back decades; NYT 07.01.25: Sudanese Paramilitary Group Committed Genocide, U.S. Says ; SWM 07.01.25: U.S. sanctions RSF leader and shell companies in the Emirates: Meanwhile, the UAE president received a warm welcome at the White House in September, despite the UAE’s ongoing support for the RSF, which undermined the U.S. peace push.

West Africa and Sahel

29.01.25 rfi: Three Sahel nations exit West African bloc as regional politics shift: Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso were to officially quit the West African bloc Ecowas Wednesday, severing ties after years of strained relations that have reshaped trade routes in the Sahel. Dubbed “Sahelexit” by some commentators, the decision was first announced a year ago by the countries' military leaders and is now taking legal effect.
The three nations are strengthening their cooperation through the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), announcing plans to create a joint military force of 5,000 troops to fight terrorism. They will also introduce a shared passport system to allow free movement between their territories.

Also see NYT 29.01.25: After a Wave of Coups, 3 African Nations Leave Decades-old Alliance: Three military-ruled countries have officially withdrawn from the West African regional alliance known as ECOWAS, the bloc said on Wednesday, defying pressure from the group to return the countries to civilian democratic rule.
The alliance, the Economic Community of West African States, offers its members visa-free travel, favorable trade tariffs and access to a $702 billion market for the region’s 400 million people. The three nations — Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger — announced their intention to leave last year.

Burkina Faso

04.01.25 rfi: Burkina Faso: le chef de la junte annonce la création de trois nouveaux bataillons d'intervention rapide: Stationnés à Diapaga, Ougarou et Arbinda, ils porteront à 28 le nombre d'unités de ce genre mises en place par le chef de la junte qui entend réorganiser les forces armées burkinabè. Au cours de son adresse à la Nation du Nouvel An, celui-ci avait promis d'intensifier la guerre contre les groupes terroristes armés afin de reconquérir l'intégralité du territoire national.

Chad

11.01.25 taz: Tschad hat genug von Frankreichs MilitärRauswurf nach über 100 Jahren: Frankreichs Militär verlässt Tschad. Die älteste Präsenz europäischer Kampftruppen in Afrika geht damit zu Ende.

Also see LMD 10.01.25: Das Ende von Françafrique?

09.01.25: AJE: Chad say military foiled armed assault on presidential complex, 19 killed: The attack came just hours after China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with government officials in the capital N’Djamena

Ivory Coast

01.01.25 AP: Ivory Coast asks French troops to leave, the latest African country to do so: Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara said the pullout would begin in January 2025. France has had up to 600 troops in Ivory Coast.
“We have decided on the concerted and organized withdrawal of French forces in Ivory Coast,” he said, adding that the military infantry battalion of Port Bouét that is run by the French army will be handed over to Ivorian troops.

Also see NYT 01.01.25: A Staunch Ally in Africa Says French Forces Will Withdraw

Mali

011.01.25 Mining: Mali to get $1.2 billion from miners after talks: Mali is set to get 750 billion CFA francs ($1.2 billion) from miners in the first quarter this year following an overhaul of its mining sector.
In late December, Mali had received 500 billion CFA francs following talks with mining companies, Finance Minister Alousseni Sanou said in speech to parliament.

Also see Reuters 13.01.25: Exclusive: Barrick to suspend operations in Mali after gold seized: Mali seizes $245 million in gold from Barrick's Loulo-Gounkoto complex -sources, Court order says Barrick-run mines owe $5.5 billion to Mali's economy ministry, Barrick disputes financial demands by Mali govt, Suspension could cut Barrick's earnings by 11% in 2025, Jefferies analysts estimate

Mauritania

31.01.25 Sahara Media: Mauritanie : construction d’une ceinture de sécurité électronique autour de la capitale pour lutter contre la migration illégale: Le Premier ministre mauritanien, Mokhtar Ould Diay, a annoncé vendredi que le gouvernement mauritanien allait doter tous les postes frontaliers des dispositifs techniques « nécessaires » et entamer la construction d’une ceinture de sécurité électronique autour de la ville de Nouakchott pour contrôler les entrées « organisées ». « La lutte contre la migration irrégulière sera l’une des priorités de l’action gouvernementale à l’horizon 2025 à travers la mise en œuvre d’un plan intégré combinant un cadre juridique approprié, des mécanismes techniques efficaces et les ressources humaines et logistiques nécessaires».

07.01.25 L’Observateur: Mauritanie. Lancement du visa électronique: L'e-visa est devenu opérationnel en Maritanie depuis le 5 janvier.
«Tout passager soumis à l’obligation de visa doit obligatoirement obtenir son visa électronique avant son embarquement pour se rendre en Mauritanie», a fait savoir le ministère des Affaires étrangères, de la Coopération africaine et des Mauritaniens de l’extérieur.

Niger

29.01.25 AA: Niger : Des manifestations pour célébrer la sortie de la CEDEAO: "À partir d'aujourd'hui c'est fini entre la CEDEAO et nous. Nous sommes désormais dans l'AES et personne ne viendra nous parler de la CEDEAO", a indiqué, pour sa part, le Colonel Ibro Amadou, porte-parole parole du Chef de l'Etat Abdourahamane Tiani, s'exprimant dans la langue hausa. "Les six mois que la CEDEAO a donnés pour acter la sortie définitive de nos pays de cette organisation sont un piège", a-t-il martelé.

20.01.25 Nordic Monitor: Turkish intelligence has established an operations hub in Niger to project power across Africa: Turkish intelligence has established a significant presence in the landlocked nation of Niger, a strategic link between North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, as part of its global clandestine operations to advance the political objectives of Turkey’s Islamist government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

11.01.25 rfi: Niger: nouvel appel à la libération de Moussa Tchangari, «référence» pour les défenseurs des droits humains: Au Niger, Moussa Tchangari est emprisonné à Filingué, à 180 kilomètres de Niamey, depuis une semaine. Le secrétaire général d'« Alternative espaces citoyens » y a été transféré, après un mois de garde à vue. Il est notamment inculpé d'intelligence avec des puissances ennemies, d'atteinte à la défense nationale et d'apologie du terrorisme.

Also see rfi 03.01.25: Niger: l'activiste Moussa Tchangari inculpé de nouvelles charges et placé sous mandat de dépôt

Nigeria

13.01.25 AJE: Nigerian air raid targeting bandits mistakenly kills civilians: The local self-defence groups were “mistakenly identified as bandits fleeing” the area in Zurmi.

Also see AJE 13.01.25: Armed groups kill at least 40 farmers in Nigeria’s Borno State: Officials say Boko Haram and ISWAP groups suspected of being behind the attacks on farmers in the Dumba region; AJE 10.01.25: Lakurawa, the new armed group wreaking havoc on the Nigeria-Niger border

Sahel

22.01.25 Defence Post: Sahel Countries to Create Joint Anti-Jihadist Force: Three junta-ruled countries in Africa’s Sahel region will join forces to create a 5,000-strong unit to fight the jihadist violence that has for years plagued the nations, officials said on Tuesday. Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali will create a “unified force” within weeks, Niger’s defense minister said. Taken together, the three countries are sprawled over an area of some 2.8 million square kilometers (1.1 million square miles) — roughly four times the size of France — in Africa’s northwest. The three countries already carry out joint anti-jihadist operations, especially in the region where their borders meet, where the attacks are the most frequent.

20.01.25 Africa Report: Sahel States have a ‘deep misunderstanding of their economic problems’ – Robertson: These countries suffer from a deep misunderstanding of their economic problems. The fundamental cause of the Sahel’s struggles is adult illiteracy. In Mali, less than half the population can read or write, and adult literacy rates remain below 40%. When a country fails to develop sustainably, it’s understandable that people blame leaders, France or the CFA franc.
While such frustrations are understandable, they are misplaced. None of these factors is responsible for these countries’ underdevelopment. The real issue is the lack of education. Economies cannot thrive unless adult literacy rates reach 70-80%. No country has ever taken off economically without achieving this. For the next 10 to 20 years, these countries are condemned to poverty.

Also see Africa Report 20.01.25: ‘Countries cannot borrow their way out of low growth,’ says IMF chief

18.01.25 JA: Le Togo n’exclut pas de rejoindre l’Alliance des États du Sahel: Le Togo n’exclut pas de rejoindre l’Alliance des États du Sahel (AES), a fait savoir le ministre des Affaires étrangères togolais à l’occasion d’un entretien accordé jeudi 16 janvier à la chaîne de télévision Voxafrica.
« C’est la décision du président de la République », a répondu le ministre Robert Dussey lorsque la question de rejoindre l’AES lui a été posée, jugeant pour sa part que « ce n’est pas impossible ». « Demandez aux populations togolaises si le Togo veut entrer dans l’AES, vous allez voir leur réponse, je vous dirais qu’elles vous diront oui », a-t-il ajouté dans son entretien, dont l’intégralité sera diffusée jeudi soir.

Also see Modern Ghana 21.01.25: Ghana's recognition of Alliance of Sahel States with Gbevlo Lartey appointed as special envoy to cause diplomatic tension?; MjpoyOnline 19.01.25: Togo’s Alliance with Sahel States and its strategic ripple effect on Ghana’s maritime future; 17.01.25 LM: Le Ghana et le Mali se rapprochent pour lutter contre l’insécurité dans la région

Senegal

30.01.25 LM: Au Sénégal, des milliers de candidatures pour 350 postes de travailleurs agricoles en Espagne: En quarante-huit heures, 10 000 candidatures ont été déposées pour répondre aux offres d’emploi espagnoles, dans le cadre d’un accord de migration circulaire signé entre les deux pays. Un engouement qui traduit l’ampleur du chômage au Sénégal, qui a atteint 20,3 % au troisième trimestre 2024.

21.01.25 rfi: Au Sénégal, il n'y aura plus de base militaire française permanente en septembre 2025: Le calendrier proposé par la France pour remettre la principale et dernière base militaire française – le camp Geille – aux forces armées sénégalaises, c’est le mois de septembre.

Sub Saharan Africa

DRC

23.01.25 NYT: Rebels Backed by Rwanda Close In on Major City in Congo: Many Congolese see the rebel advance as an invasion of their country by a foreign power in an attempt to seize land and Congo’s valuable rare minerals.

Also see taz 01.02.25: Eine Neuordnung ist notwendig; Guardian 29.01.25: The Guardian view on conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a disaster with many makers: Western resource-hunger has fuelled a vast humanitarian crisis. Donors must now press Rwanda to pull back from this war; taz 27.01.25: Verfeindete Nachbarn: Der Krieg im Osten Kongos ist eng mit Ruanda verknüpft – vor allem wegen des Völkermordes an den Tutsi.; AJE 27.01.25: Rwanda-DRC tension: Have rebels taken control of Congolese city? What next?; Standard 28.01.25: Goma gefallen? Was der Krieg im Ostkongo mit der Energiewende zu tun hat

Mozambique

12.01.25 NYT: This Part of Mozambique Was Like Paradise. Now It’s a Terrorist Hotbed: Islamic State militants have rampaged across the northern Cabo Delgado Province for more than seven years. The government says the situation has stabilized. Residents tell a different story.

Also see Guardian 08.01.25: Malawi sees influx of refugees from post-election violence in Mozambique: Marauding gangs and political unrest since October’s polls have driven thousands of Mozambicans across the border into Malawi, despite its drought, food and fuel shortages

Zimbabwe

07.01.25 AJE: ‘It’s the only way’: Migrants, army face-off along S Africa-Zimbabwe border: South Africa’s military has enhanced border operations along the Limpopo River to halt smugglers and illegal crossings from Zimbabwe.

West Asia

Israel / Palestine

29.01.25 Guardian: Unrwa closure imminent as last-bid attempts to stop Israeli ban fail: The main UN agency serving Palestinians in the occupied territories, including Gaza, looks likely to be shut down on Thursday as Israel defied widespread international support for the agency in a move Unrwa predicted would “sabotage Gaza’s recovery and political transition”.

Also see AJE 29.01.25: What Israel’s UNRWA ban means for millions of Palestinians: By the numbers

NYT 29.01.25: Top U.S. Envoy Makes Rare Trip to Gaza Strip to Bolster Cease-Fire: His visit comes a day before Israeli legislation targeting the operations of the main U.N. agency that aids Palestinian refugees goes into effect. The laws would require the agency, UNRWA, to cease its activities in East Jerusalem and bans any Israeli government contacts with the agency. UNRWA says the laws would hobble its operations in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza. By Tuesday, more than 376,000 people had reached northern Gaza, according to the latest data from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The American firm Safe Reach Solutions is expected to oversee the operational management of the corridor, according to a person familiar with the plan, while two other firms — one American and one Egyptian — will handle the inspections of those heading north.

Also see FA 29.01.25: Israel, Trump, and the Gaza Deal. Can Netanyahu Survive Without War?: For Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, all this presents a huge dilemma. He needs his far-right coalition partners to stay in power. But they adamantly oppose the cease-fire and—in contrast to a large majority of the Israeli public—are demanding that the war restart or they will resign. If new elections were held today, Netanyahu would probably lose.
What happens next, then, will depend primarily on the U.S. president. The incoming administration has big plans.Trumps main goal seems to lie in multibillion dollar technology and defense deals between the United States and Saudi Arabia. An accompanying step would be a grand Israeli-Saudi normalization deal.

29.01.25 SZ: Deutschland könnte Grenzschutzexperten in den Gazastreifen entsenden: Als Teil einer EU-Mission sollen sie am Grenzübergang Rafah Kontrollen beaufsichtigen und dafür sorgen, dass verletzte Palästinenser den Gazastreifen verlassen können.

23.01.2225 +972: Leaked documents expose deep ties between Israeli army and Microsoft: Microsoft has a “footprint in all major military infrastructures” in Israel, and sales of the company’s cloud and artificial intelligence services to the Israeli army have skyrocketed since the beginning of its onslaught on Gaza, according to leaked commercial records from Israel’s Defense Ministry and files from Microsoft’s Israeli subsidiary.

16.01.25 +972: A ceasefire won’t stop Israel’s genocidal agenda: The agreement may reduce the intensity of Israel’s killing spree, but it is likely to usher in a grueling new phase of ethnic cleansing with Trump’s full support. The Israeli media is already reporting that Trump’s ceasefire “gift bag” to Netanyahu could include a long list of treats, from lifting sanctions on Israeli NSO Group’s spyware Pegasus and on violent Israeli settlers, to giving Washington’s blessing to major West Bank land theft or outright annexation, and permitting or even facilitating a direct attack on Iran.

Also see FA 29.01.25: Israel, Trump, and the Gaza Deal: Can Netanyahu Survive Without War?; +972 28.01.25: After Gaza ceasefire, Israel turns its firepower on the West Bank; NYT 21.01.25: Israel Embarks on an ‘Extensive’ Military Operation in the West Bank: The announcement came shortly after President Trump rescinded Biden-era sanctions on Israeli settlers and Jewish extremists raided Palestinian villages in protest against the cease-fire in Gaza; DAWN '17.01.25: The Exceptions Have Become the Rule.' Naomi Klein on Trump, Gaza and the End of the 'Liberal Order': The end of the bombs does not mean the end of the genocide, unfortunately.

Lebanon

09.01.25 Al Monitor: Joseph Aoun elected president of Lebanon, ending two-year void: The election of army commander Gen. Joseph Aoun garnered rare consensus among the Lebanese, backed by the United States and Saudi Arabia in the first presidential election for Lebanon following the fall of the Assad regime.

Syria

21.01.25 taz: Die Kurden passen nicht ins Puzzle : In Syrien heizt die Türkei den Konflikt um die kurdische Autonomie weiter an. Die USA sind besorgt, jetzt vermitteln Iraks Kurden

06.01.25 MEMO: Turkiye opens 7 border crossings for Syrian returnees: The Turkish Presidency of Migration Management (PMM) yesterday announced new procedures for the voluntary return of Syrians holding temporary protection cards in Turkiye. The statement specified five designated border crossings for a “voluntary, safe and dignified” return to Syria for those wishing to return home.

Turkiye

17.01.25 Mülteci-Der: Report on İzmir and Aydin Removal Center Visits (July – September 2024): Currently, Turkey operates more than 30 removal centers with a combined capacity of over 20,000 individuals. These centers are used to detain migrants and asylum seekers awaiting deportation or the resolution of their legal status. In addition to these designated facilities, the Turkish authorities also use ad hoc detention sites at border crossings, airports, and police stations to hold individuals temporarily. This report provides a detailed analysis based on several visits conducted to two removal centers – the İzmir Harmandalı Removal Center and the Aydın Removal Center – between July and September 2024,

07.01.25 AJE: Analysis: Turkiye’s road ahead in a post-Assad Syria: Challenges and opportunities await Ankara as its neighbour reimagines itself after decades of dictatorship.

Also see Africa Report 04.01.25: Egypt frets over Islamist win in Syria: “For Egypt, this creates of course apprehension, especially given the Brotherhood’s history in the country,” said Merissa Khurma, director of the Middle East Program at the Wilson Center think tank in Washington. Several other Arab states moved swiftly to engage with the new authorities in Damascus, while Cairo has exercised greater caution.

Europe

Bosnia

27.01.25 EU Council: Frontex: EU to sign cooperation agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina: The agreement will allow the EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina to organise joint operations involving Frontex border guards and border guards from Bosnia and Herzegovina. It also means that Frontex border management teams can be deployed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and will allow Frontex to assist Bosnia and Herzegovina in managing migratory flows, countering illegal immigration and tackling cross-border crime.

Bulgaria, Romania

27.01.25 Guardian: Bulgarian police ‘blocked rescue’ of teenage migrants who froze to death: Report by rights groups alleges border police refused to rescue boys and blocked activists’ efforts to save them. A dossier of evidence compiled by two humanitarian organisations, seen by the Guardian, contains photos, testimonies and geolocations allegedly showing the authorities’ failure to save the boys, who called for help as they struggled cold and lost in the forests of Burgas, in south-eastern Bulgaria.

01.01.25 AJE: Romania, Bulgaria join borderless Schengen zone after 13-year wait: The expansion, made possible when Austria and other members dropped their objections to the former communist countries joining, officially took place at midnight (22:00 GMT) on Wednesday, marked by ceremonies at various border posts.

France / UK

05.01.25 Calais.Bordermonitoring: Fatales Patt: Die Kanalroute 2024: 2024 haben die Bootspassagen auf der Kanalroute deutlich zugenommen. Mit knapp 37.000 Personen liegt die Zahl der Ankünfte zwar niedriger als im Rekordjahr 2022, als etwa 46.000 Menschen auf diese Weise übersetzten, aber um ein Viertel höher als 2023. Das Jahr 2024 ist damit dasjenige mit den zweitmeisten Ankünften seit Entstehung der Kanalroute vor gut sechs Jahren. Allerdings ist die Passage sehr viel riskanter geworden und die 2023 begonnene Serie von Todesfällen erweist sich als dauerhaft.

Germany

31.01.25 Guardian: German parliament rejects immigration bill backed by far right: The bill was rejected by 350 to 338, out of 693 MPs who voted, including five abstentions. Wednesday’s motion was the first time in Germany’s postwar history that a parliamentary majority was reached with the help of the far right, greatly heightening tensions before Friday’s debate. Opponents included members of Merz’s own CDU/CSU alliance who rebelled, as well as members of the pro-business Free Democratic party (FDP) who had voted for the original motion but wanted the law to return to internal committees for further debate.

Also see RfM 31.01.25: Für eine politische Orientierung an Fakten und der historischen Verpflichtung auf die Menschenrechte!: Wir, wissenschaftliche Vereinigungen der Forschung zu Migration, Integration, Rassismus und Menschenrechten, warnen anlässlich der Bundestagswahl 2025 eindringlich vor den Folgen einer Politik, die zunehmend grundlegende Menschenrechte missachtet und sich immer weniger an wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen orientiert.
Die deutsche Politik beteiligt sich aktuell an einem europäischen Wettlauf um eine repressive Migrations- und Integrationspolitik. Dabei wird das Asylrecht systematisch ausgehöhlt, zentrale Schutzmechanismen für geflüchtete Menschen werden demontiert, radikale Forderungen wie Ausbürgerungen, Abschiebungen in Kriegsgebiete oder die vollständige Grenzschließung dominieren die politische Debatte. Die Verfassung und Menschenrechte werden zur Verhandlungsmasse; taz 30.01.25: Auf die Barrikaden!: Die Linkenpolitikerin Heidi Reichinnek zeigte im Bundestag, wie man seinen Wäh­le­r*in­nen sagt, dass man sie verteidigt – koste es, was es wolle. (Video: https://dbtg.tv/cvid/7628597) SZ 30.01.25: Welle von Protesten gegen das Vorgehen von CDU und CSU: Für Donnerstag und Freitag sind bundesweit viele Demonstrationen angemeldet worden, zum Beispiel in München vor der CSU-Zentrale. Die SPD fordert von CDU-Chef Merz, den Entwurf des sogenannten Zustrombegrenzungsgesetzes zurückzuziehen; Tagesschau 30.01.25: Schärfere Asylpolitik findet Zustimmung: Klar ist, dass Merz mit seinem Ziel, die Zuwanderung zu begrenzen, einen Nerv in der Bevölkerung trifft: Zwei von drei Bürgerinnen und Bürgern (68 Prozent) sind der Meinung, Deutschland sollte weniger Flüchtlinge aufnehmen als bislang. Dieser Wert ist in den vergangenen zehn Jahren kontinuierlich gestiegen.; medico 29.01.25: Trumpismus made in Germany: Die extreme Rechte versucht seit Jahren, ihre Narrative auf dem Feld der Migrationspolitik zu setzen. Und sie kommt der Macht immer näher. Die Skandalisierung von Migration stellt die Brücke zur Mitte dar und ebnet den Weg, um rechtsstaatliche Prinzipien dem politischen Entrechtungswillen unterzuordnen; Guardian 29.01.25: Olaf Scholz attacks rival’s ‘unforgivable mistake’ as AfD backs migration plan: Friedrich Merz was accused by Scholz’s minority government of breaking a longstanding political firewall against the far-right populists. He had presented two non-binding motions to parliament, aimed at boosting security measures and closing all of Germany’s land borders to irregular migration.

29.01.25 taz: „Das ist Zensur“: Der Bundestag wendet sich in einer Resolution gegen Antisemitismus an Hochschulen. Das mag gut gemeint sein – ist aber ein Angriff auf Wissenschaftsfreiheit und Kritiker der israelischen Politik, so der NS-Historiker Ulrich Herbert

Greece

30.01.25 RSA: Crete – Gavdos: Sixfold increase in refugee arrivals in 2024 – Lack of organised first reception and accommodation infrastructure: Refugee arrivals in Crete and the remote island of Gavdos were significantly increased throughout 2024. Already, arrivals in the region during January 2025 are substantially higher compared to those in January 2024. The flows from the African coasts to these two islands are no longer an exceptional occurrence, as they are often portrayed in recent years, but a systematic reality that requires an organised response. According to this data, 5,161 refugees arrived in Crete and Gavdos in 2024 across 103 incidents

07.01.25 LM: La Grèce condamnée par la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme pour le refoulement vers la Turquie d’une demandeuse d’asile: La CEDH affirme que les autorités grecques ont recours de manière « systématique » à une pratique contraire au droit international.

Also see SZ 07.01.25: Griechenland muss Schmerzensgeld an „Pushback“-Opfer zahlen

Italy

26.01.25 NYT: Italy Begins Shipping Migrants to Albania, Reviving Stalled Program: Meloni’s first attempt to have asylum seekers held for assessment overseas was immediately blocked by judges. Now another is underway. “Trust me, the centers in Albania will work,” she said last month at her party’s gathering in Rome. “Even if I will have to spend every night on the case, from now to the end of this Italian government.”

Also see Infomigrants 29.01.25: Five people sent to Albania detention centers are returned to Italy: An Italian navy ship with 49 people rescued in international waters docked in Albania on Tuesday (January 28) for the processing of their asylum applications, the Associated Press (AP) reported. Five of the passengers, however, were said to have been returned to Italy.
Citing local media reports, AP said two Bangladeshis, two Gambians, and one Ivorian were sent back to Italy, four because they were minors. A fifth was reported to have been deemed a "vulnerable" person. The other 44 passengers who were reported to be mostly from Bangladesh, Egypt, Ivory Coast, and Gambia are being held at Albania’s Gjader facility, a former military airport, where their asylum applications will be processed.; DW 01.02.24: Gericht blockiert Meloni-Pläne: Italien holt Flüchtlinge wieder aus Albanien ab

24.01.24 Guardian: Italy says Libya war crimes suspect was sent home due to ‘social dangerousness’: General Osama Najim was released on a technicality and repatriated by Italy without any prior consultation, says international criminal court. Najim, who is chief of Libya’s judicial police, is wanted by the ICC for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well as alleged rape and murder. He also presides over Mitiga prison, a facility near Tripoli condemned by human rights organisations for the arbitrary detention, torture and abuse of political dissidents, migrants and refugees.

Also see Guardian 22.01.25: Meloni faces questions after Italy frees Libyan general accused of war crimes

10.01.25 taz: Eine Stadt macht sich auf: Eine sizilianische Kleinstadt ist besonders erfolgreich bei der Integration von Geflücheten – obwohl dort die rechte Fratelli d’Italia regiert. Seit 2011 gibt es ein Aufnahmezentrum für Geflüchtete und Asylbewerber in der Kleinstadt, das von der Vereinigung Don Bosco 2000 geleitet wird. Dank des unermüdlichen Einsatzes der 17 Mitarbeiter erhalten fast alle Menschen, die dort seither aufgenommen werden, eine Aufenthaltsgenehmigung

Poland / Belarus

18.01.25 DW: Zaun, Stacheldraht, Wärmekameras: Polens Grenze zu Belarus: Mit Investitionen in moderne Technik und robuste Anlagen versucht Polen, seine Grenze zu Belarus zu sichern. Im Frühjahr werden dennoch erneut mehr irreguläre Grenzübertritte erwartet.

Spain / Canary Islands

16.01.25 Guardian: Up to 50 people on small boat bound for Canary Islands feared drowned: Migration NGO says at least 10,457 people died while trying to reach Spain by sea last year

European Union

29.01.25 EC: Statement by President von der Leyen on the signature of the EU-Jordan Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership: Jordan is a key partner for Europe in the Middle East and the Mediterranean, serving as a pillar of regional stability. Jordan has shown tremendous generosity by hosting millions of refugees, and it is wholeheartedly committed to the promotion of peace and security in the region and worldwide. Jordan is playing a critical role to consolidate the ceasefire in Gaza and the EU acknowledges the importance of Jordan as a regional hub for humanitarian assistance. Jordan's leadership in supporting Syria's transition highlights its pivotal role in shaping the region's future.

24.01.25 Guardian: Europe overhauls funding to Tunisia after Guardian exposes migrant abuse: Allegations of rape, beatings and collusion by EU-funded security forces prompt shift in migration arrangements. Until now, the EU has rejected accusations of wrongdoing in its dealings with Tunisia, arguing that it has one of the most sophisticated systems for monitoring human rights violations.
Officials, however, now confirm that new arrangements are being prepared for its relationship with the increasingly authoritarian north African state over “the coming years”.

22.01.25 NYT: ‘Living Through Hell’: How North Africa Keeps Migrants From Europe: Libya deported more than 600 men from Niger last month as North African countries — financed by the European Union to tackle migration — have ramped up expulsions of sub-Saharan Africans. As anti-migrant sentiment rises across Europe, from France to Germany to Hungary, the citizens of sub-Saharan Africa trying to reach the continent are being pushed back by North African governments in proportions unseen in years. The E.U. has signed bilateral agreements with Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, Mauritania, that include financial support to curb migrant flows.

Reports and Long Reads

The Civil MRCC is glad to share the 15th issue of Echoes "10 Years of Struggle". Downlöoad # 15 here.

January 2025 Informe 68: Militarització, necrotecnologia i vulneració de drets a les fronteres europees. Empreses d’armes i seguretat, tecnològiques i institucions que desenvolupen tecnologies de control de les migracions de la UE: Aquesta investigació té per objecte estudiar l’augment dels sistemes tecnològics a les fronteres europees com a part del procés de militarització de la gestió migratòria a la UE, el seu impacte negatiu en la seguretat de les persones migrants i els actors que estan participant en la construcció de l’Europa Fortalesa a través dels programes de recerca que tracten el fet migratori com una amenaça a la seguretat europea.

January 2025 Reserchers X: State Trafficking: Expulsion and sale of migrants from Tunisia to Libya: The report presents 30 testimonies from migrants who were expelled from Tunisia to Libya between June 2023 and November 2024, highlighting a salient feature which appears in their accounts: the sale of human beings at the border by Tunisian police and military apparatuses as well as the interconnection between the infrastructure behind expulsions and the kidnapping industry in Libyan prisons.

29.01.25 AJE: As Pakistanis die in fresh Mediterranean tragedy, a question lingers: Why?: “We were able to talk with some of the surviving boys in Dakhla, who shared how pirates repeatedly attacked their boat for a week, torturing and throwing people overboard.”
Despite being one of Pakistan’s most fertile regions, and the home of several industries manufacturing electronic goods such as refrigerators, fans, sports and surgical goods, Punjab’s districts of Gujrat, Sialkot, Jhelum, and Mandi Bahauddin have been hubs for people seeking to migrate to Europe for decades.

15.01.25 MERIP: Artificial Humanitarianism—The Data-Driven Future of Refugee Responses: n Jordan’s Za’atari refugee camp, to pay for food at one of the World Food Programme (WFP)’s distribution centers, Syrian refugees must lean into an iris scanner that registers their biometrics. Za’atari is the site of the world’s first comprehensive biometrics system for refugees. Unveiled in 2013 by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), it included the large-scale digitization of refugee registration through the Biometric Identity Management System (BIMS). The UNHCR started using BIMS after a nearly 100-person trial of Afghan refugees in Pakistan in 2002.

14.01.25 Frontex: Irregular border crossings into EU drop sharply in 2024: New preliminary data from Frontex reveal a significant 38% drop in irregular border crossings into the EU in 2024, reaching the lowest level since 2021, when migration was still affected by the COVID pandemic. Despite persistent migration pressure, intensified EU and partner cooperation against smuggling networks has significantly reduced crossings at Europe’s external borders, with just over 239 000 detections recorded last year.

Also see taz 15.01.25: Migration in die EU: Deutlich weniger unerlaubte Einreisen: Die Grenzschutzagentur Frontex legt ihren Jahresbericht für 2024 vor. Amnesty wirft Sicherheitsbehörden in diesem Zusammenhang schwere Verstöße vor.

13.01.25 Statewatch: Deportations: New role for Frontex as EU pushes for more “voluntary” returns: A special report by Hope Barker and Anas Ambri: The EU has been funding new accelerated asylum and deportation procedures in Bulgaria, including a new "assisted voluntary return" project. Increasing "voluntary" returns is a key part of the plan to increase deportations from the EU, with Frontex playing an increasing role. The project targets individuals in detention. Experts question whether such procedures can ever be truly voluntary.

16.12.2024 ritimo: Expansive EU defence, migration and security policy shifts are altering the EU’s nature: Yasha Maccanico, examines the evolution of the EU’s security and defence policies for the organisation Ritimo. The article explores the “unprecedented amount of funding for security and defence purposes” in the EU’s budgets for the 2021-27 period.

Campaigns and Events

13.01.25 Migreurop: Communiqué de soutien à Moussa Tchangari: Nous exigeons la libération immédiate de Moussa Tchangari, défenseur des droits et Secrétaire Général de l’association Alternative Espaces Citoyens (AEC), qui a été incarcéré le 3 janvier 2025 après un mois de garde à vue.

04.02.25 European Left: Black Resistance Against EU Border Externalisation: This event will shed light on the troubling realities of EU border externalisation in Tunisia and Libya, focusing on its devastating impact on Black people on the move.
A ground-breaking report—based on extensive on-the-ground investigations by an international network of researchers—will be presented, exposing systemic racism and severe human rights violations. Additionally, first-hand testimonies will provide critical insights into the lived realities of those directly affected.

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