Monthly Press Review March 2026

April 3rd, 2026

This monthly press review covers topics such as Eurafrican migration control, migration, social movements, and displacement in African countries, as well as news on the European border regime.

The selection of these articles is somewhat rough and contingent, biased towards our interest in popular uprisings and social and migration movements, as well as border politics and the militarisation of social relations.

The main sources are news outlets such as AJE, the Guardian and the New York Times, as well as newsletters from various other sources. As we have learned, particularly following the events in Gaza, it is important to supplement the European, and especially the German, news landscape with articles from abroad. If you would like to contribute articles from other sources, please let us know at contact[at]migration-control.info.

For a more distiguished way of doing press reviews, and more fokused on European developments, please Also see migreurop Press Review February 2026, and the ERCE Press Review.

We also recommend the SWP Web Monitore, especially Nahost/ Nordafrika, and Subsahara-Afrika.

All Africa

29.03.26 AR: US-Africa: Who’s pushing the Trump offensive on African mines?: In competition with China to secure critical minerals supply, US President Donald Trump has launched the $12bn ‘Project Vault’. Here are the negotiators, moneymen and influencers tasked with filling the coffers.

25.03.26 Reuters: UN adopts Ghana's slavery resolution, defying resistance from US, Europe: Ghana said the resolution ‌was needed because the consequences of slavery, which saw at least 12.5 million Africans taken and sold between the 15th and 19th centuries, persist today, including racial disparities. It urges member states to engage in dialogue on reparations, including issuing formal apologies, returning stolen artefacts, providing financial compensation, and ensuring guarantees of non-repetition.
Also see Guardian 27.04.26: UN’s landmark slavery ruling energises African Union’s fight for reparations; AR 26.03.26: US clashes with Africa over slavery and reparations: The US stood almost alone at the United Nations this week in voting against an African resolution condemning the trans-Atlantic slave trade and kickstarting the campaign for reparations, potentially fuelling anti-American sentiment on the continent.

23.03.26 AR: Africa’s desperate scramble for oil in the shadow of Hormuz: Decades of neglected infrastructure and depleted reserves have left African nations dangerously exposed to the volatility of the Gulf.

19.03.26 Guardian: Some of the world’s poorest countries to lose UK aid due to 56% budget cut: UK’s bilateral aid to African countries, which funds areas such as schools and clinics, to be cut by almost £900m by 2028-29

Also see Guardian 12.03.26: UK government axes flagship global health project:

18.03.26 AR: Africa’s $155bn borrowing forecast threatened by Middle East war fallout: African nations are facing a new geopolitical shockwave that could inflate the cost of capital and supply chain expenses, analysts at S&P Global Ratings have said.

Also see Guardian 16.03.26: Africa particularly vulnerable as Iran conflict disrupts supply chains, say experts: Food production in many African countries depends heavily on fertiliser imported from the Gulf through the strait of Hormuz; AR 12.03.26: What does the Middle East war mean for Gulf investment in Africa?: The scale of the Gulf’s Africa bet is substantial. According to the IMF, the GCC investment in Africa skyrocketed from just $3.2bn in 2009 to nearly $50bn in 2023.
In recent years, high oil and gas prices buoyed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine generated windfall revenues, and Gulf sovereign funds, state-owned champions, and private conglomerates used that surplus to push aggressively into Africa; AR 12.03.26: How the Iran war could reshape the Saudi-UAE battle for influence in Africa [Analysis in infografics]; AR 09.03.26: As oil tops $100 a barrel, what does it mean for Africa?: “Countries in the Horn of Africa, as well as Egypt, could be severely affected by the worsening security crisis around the Gulf of Oman, or even by an extension of the war to the west.” Particularly, those countries most heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels will bear the brunt. In this regard, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal are on the front line;

13.03.26 AJE: US’s new scramble for Africa is biomedical imperialism: US health agreements across the continent promise funding, but demand access to sensitive data and pathogen samples with few guarantees of equitable benefit-sharing.

Also see Guardian 27.02.26: Rising anger over ‘lop-sided’ and ‘immoral’ US health funding pacts with African countries: Zimbabwe refuses to sign agreement and Kenya faces a court case over data sharing as new aid deals come under scrutiny; AR 02.03.26: Some African governments are refusing Trump’s ‘America First’ health deals. Here’s why.: Some African governments and activists see as new strings attached, from mining interests to control over health data.

12.03.26 Guardian: ‘Invasive’ AI-led mass surveillance in Africa violating freedoms, warn experts: Countries across the continent have spent more than $2bn on Chinese tracking technology that is not ‘necessary or proportionate’, new report finds

09.03.26 ACLED: Africa Overview: March 2026: The Congolese military increases aerial strikes against the M23, Ethiopia: The ENDF, TDF, and Eritrean forces mobilize troops in the north, Mozambique: ISM pushes gains in Cabo Delgado’s Catupa forest, Sahel: JNIM launches a region-wide offensive following internal defection, Sudan: The RSF mobilizes to consolidate its control over North Darfur

North Africa:

Algeria

24.03.36 AL 24 News: Algeria and Niger Sign 20+ Agreements to Boost Bilateral Partnership: The cooperation agreements signed during the visit of PM Ghrieb to Niamey, on the occasion of the Algerian–Nigerien Joint Committee meeting, covered several sectors, including energy, health, public works, religious affairs, youth and sports, higher education and scientific research, industry and pharmaceutical industries, as well as the knowledge economy, startups and micro-enterprises, in addition to the environment and cooperation in the field of laboratories.

Also see Nova 23.03.26: Niger relaunches the trans-Saharan gas pipeline, Sonatrach technical mission to Niamey

Libya

10.03.26 Africa Intell: Control of south Libya strains relations between Haftar and Tchiani: Disputes between the eastern Libyan strongman's clan and the Niger junta are piling up. The rivalry between Benghazi and Tripoli is meanwhile intensifying around the strategic Salvador Pass border zone.

05.03.26 Guardian: [Long Read] Power without a throne: how Khalifa Haftar controls Libya: When Nato helped overthrow Gaddafi in 2011, there were hopes of a new beginning. More than a decade later, a former CIA asset runs the country – and Libya has become yet another lesson in the unintended consequences of foreign intervention

Morocco

17.03.26 AR: Why Morocco has become the continent’s leading arms buyer: While African arms imports overall have declined, those of the kingdom rose by 12% over the periods 2016-2020 and 2021-2025, making Rabat the continent’s leading arms importer and the 28th worldwide. The US remains its main supplier (60%), ahead of Israel (24%) and France (10%).
The defence budget of Morocco for 2026 is $7bn; it represents only 4 % of GDP, compared to the Algerian defence budget of nearly $25bn.

Tunisia

24.03.26 Infomigrants: Tunisia proposes revision of its EU migration deal: Tunisia wants to renegotiate its EU deal, demanding a fairer partnership amid growing migration tensions and a crackdown on dissent in the country. The EU remains Tunisia’s largest trading partner, taking around 70 percent of its exports, yet Tunisian officials complain that the inflows of foreign investment and development support have not matched the asymmetry of this trade dependence.
The 2023 EU-Tunisia migration deal promised immediate aid of about 100-105 million euros destined for border and coastguard operations, plus some one billion euros in broader macroeconomic, energy and sectoral support, in exchange for tighter controls on irregular departures and returns.
Tunisian authorities, once keen to publish figures on interdictions to show their EU partners that they were clamping down, stopped sharing regular data on migrant interceptions in mid‑2025. Civil society actors such as FTDES have previously suggested this is not just a security measure but a political tactic to avoid confronting the contradiction between Tunisia’s "border‑guard" role and its official narrative that it is not Europe’s proxy. This "strategy of silence," as Italian migration researcher Matteo Villa puts it, makes it harder to hold states accountable for the lives lost at sea and to counter Saïed’s narrative that Tunisia is merely the victim of a global economic system rigged against the Global South.

20.03.26 taz: Antirassistischer Aktivismus unerwünscht: Aktivistin Saadia Mosbah setzte sich gegen Rassismus und für Migranten aus Subsahara-Afrika ein. Nun wurde sie zu einer langen Haftstrafe verurteilt.

Also see FTDES 20.03.26: Freedom for Saadia Mosbah No to racism in all its forms: Activist Saadia Mosbah—who has been detained for 681 days—is being prosecuted alongside eight other activists from the association who remain free, solely for their legitimate work in combating racism and hate speech.

East Africa

Djibouti

26.03.26 AJE: At least nine people dead, dozens missing as boat sinks off Djibouti coast: Rescue operation recovers 266 survivors as UN warns deadliest season on the route is just beginning. The IOM said all those rescued were Ethiopian nationals, who were receiving support at its Migrant Response Centre in the nearby town of Obock.

Ethiopia / Tigray

10.03.26 TNH: Ethiopia’s blame game after videos reveal starving displaced people in Tigray: In late December, footage began to spread on social media of the horrific conditions within a large camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) at Hitsats, in northwest Tigray.

Somalia

28.02.26 DW: Was Somalias Militärabkommen mit Saudi-Arabien bedeutet: Nach der Anerkennung eines unabhängigen Somalilandes durch Israel haben Somalia und Saudi-Arabien ein Abkommen über militärische Zusammenarbeit unterzeichnet.

South Sudan

08.03.26 AJE: Thousands flee Akobo after South Sudan army issues forced evacuation order: The town of Akobo, near the Ethiopian border, was almost completely emptied by Sunday after the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces issued an ultimatum on Friday demanding that civilians, aid workers and United Nations peacekeepers leave ahead of a planned assault.

Also see Guardian 03.03.26: South Sudan risks return to full-blown civil war as violence escalates: At least 169 killed in raid near Sudan border as clashes between government and opposition forces intensify. Violent confrontations in the world’s youngest country between the military, which is loyal to President Salva Kiir, and insurgents believed to be allied to the suspended vice-president, Riek Machar, have increased in recent weeks

Sudan

31.03.26 AJE: Sudan war ‘being fought on women’s bodies’: Survivors detail sexual assault: In a new report, Doctors Without Borders says sexual violence is the ‘defining feature’ of the conflict in Sudan.

27.03.26 SWM: The Tragedy of El Daein Teaching Hospital: Before the smoke had cleared from Ed-Daien Hospital, even as rescuers were still searching through the rubble, cheers erupted in the ranks of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). They offered a variety of justifications for the attack. Some said that the army’s drones had attacked legitimate military targets in Ed Daien. Others admitted that a hospital was struck, but insisted this was legitimate because the hospital had been treating wounded RSF combatants.

West Africa and Sahel

23.03.26 rfi: France–Côte d’Ivoire–Bénin: une coopération antiterroriste réaffirmée et renforcée: Réunion tripartite des chefs d'état-major de France, de Côte d'Ivoire et du Bénin, qui collaborent depuis l'année dernière dans la lutte contre le terrorisme

23.03.26 Responsible Statecraft: Trump's Sahel reset banks on 'sovereignty,' guns + minerals deals: The State Department is conducting a new wave of outreach to three military-ruled Sahelian countries — Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. This outreach appears aimed at moving past concerns about democracy and restoring a kind of status quo ante in the U.S.-Sahel security relationship, combined with a blunter focus on critical minerals.

20.03.26 SWP: Europäische Sahel-Politik: Zurück auf Start: [Report] Die Studie geht der Frage nach, welche Handlungsoptionen die EU und ihre Mitgliedstaaten im Sahel noch haben. Dazu werden relevante strategische Entwicklungen in Mali und Niger seit der Machtergreifung durch das Militär analysiert.

15.03.26 taz: Terror und Krieg zerreißen Westafrika: [Analysis] Die Sahelzone ist ein Flickenteppich, wo Gewaltakteure auf dem Rücken der Bevölkerung gegeneinander Krieg führen; die jeweilige Militärregierung ist nur eine Gruppe von mehreren.

10.03.26: Business Insider: Mali, Senegal and Nigeria emerge as biggest weapons buyers in sub-Saharan Africa: Unlike traditional North African arms importers such as Egypt, Morocco and Algeria, which often procure advanced weapons to maintain regional military dominance, many sub-Saharan African countries are increasing military purchases primarily to address internal security threats and insurgencies.China is now the largest arms supplier to the region, followed by Russia and Türkiye, reflecting shifting global influence and Africa’s evolving security needs.

10.03.26 Africa Radio: Au Niger, près de 1 900 détenus pour 400 places dans la prison de Niamey: Le Niger n'est pas le seul pays africain à connaître une énorme surpopulation carcérale: d'après la base de données World Prison Brief, les prisons du Sénégal, du Bénin ou encore de la Côte d'Ivoire avoisinent ou dépassent le taux de 300%.

Burkina Faso

28.03.26 rfi: Le Burkina Faso adopte une «Charte de la révolution» qui redéfinit les règles de gouvernance dans le pays: Adopté à l'unanimité par les 70 députés présents, le document reprend l’essentiel de l’architecture institutionnelle de la « Charte de la transition » en y intégrant les valeurs de défense de la patrie, d’engagement patriotique populaire et de souveraineté nationale. L’un de ses principaux points concerne par ailleurs l’avenir politique du capitaine Ibrahim Traoré.

25.03.26 rfi: Burkina Faso: nouvelle attaque des jihadistes du Jnim dans le Centre-Nord: Au Burkina Faso, les soldats burkinabés et supplétifs des Volontaires pour la défense de la patrie (VDP) de nouveau confrontés à une attaque jihadiste du Groupe de soutien à l'islam et aux musulmans (Jnim). La dernière en date remonte à ce dimanche 22 mars dans la région du Centre-Nord et a fait au moins vingt morts.

17.03.26 La Tribune: Burkina Faso : la Banque mondiale approuve un financement de 188 millions d'euros pour soutenir la transformation agricole: e financement doit appuyer le Projet d’appui à la transformation de l’agriculture au Burkina Faso, centré sur les chaînes de valeur du riz et du maïs.

Also see Business Insider 11.03.26: Burkina Faso’s $64bn development gamble draws scrutiny from economists: Authorities in Burkina Faso have unveiled a sweeping $64 billion national development strategy aimed at transforming the country’s economy between 2026 and 2030, but analysts say the scale of the proposal may exceed the nation’s financial and institutional capacity.

10.03.26 APA: Le Burkina renforce la lutte contre le trafic d’ânes: Les autorités burkinabè ont réactivé l’interdiction d’exportation des asins face à la multiplication d’abattoirs dédiés dans les pays voisins.

Ghana

13.03.26 La Tribune: UE–Ghana : un partenariat de défense sur fond de recomposition des alliances en Afrique de l’Ouest: Face à l’extension de l’insécurité au Sahel et aux risques de contagion vers les pays côtiers du golfe de Guinée, l’Union européenne renforce sa coopération sécuritaire avec plusieurs partenaires d’Afrique de l’Ouest.

Also see AR 25.03.26: Ghana signs pact with Europe to fight jihadist threat: After deadly attacks on Ghanaian traders in Burkina Faso, Accra faces a stark reality: the Sahel’s violence is edging dangerously close to home. Ghana signed a pact with the European Union on Tuesday to deepen its security partnership.; Africa Radio 24.03.26: Le Ghana et l’Union européenne signent un partenariat inédit en matière de sécurité et de défense; BBC 24.06.26: Ghana and EU sign landmark defence deal to combat militant Islamist threat: In her address, Kallas said the EU supports West African countries like Ghana to "counter terrorism, strengthen border security and enhance maritime security". During the visit to Accra, EU representatives delivered drones, anti-drone systems, bomb disposal vehicles, and motorcycles to the Ghanaian military.

Guinea / Sieerra Leone:

17.03.26 AR: Guinea and Sierra Leone: Eternal border conflict between Mamadi Doumbouya and Julius Maada Bio: There is often a problem on the ground with mapping the borders resulting from colonisation. The Yenga area is believed to be rich in diamonds and gold.

08.03.26 AJE: One ‘party state’: Guinea dissolves main opposition parties: Decree strips parties of legal status and assets, as opposition leader calls on Guineans to resist

Mali

31.03.26 AR: ‘We do not feel safe’: Fear grips Mali under Russia’s Africa Corps:[Long Read] Russia’s Africa Corps has left a bloody wake in its operations in Mali. The Africa Report talks to Malians on the ground on how they are terrorised on all sides – by Russian brutality, jihadist invasion and army ruthlessness.

19.03.26 Businessinsider: Mali restructures embassies in Russia, China and 5 other nations as it tightens grip on gold sector: Malian leader, Assimi Goïta is accelerating Mali’s diplomatic and economic repositioning as the country expands its global footprint and tightens control over its gold sector, in moves that signal a broader recalibration by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). While the alliance, which includes Burkina Faso and Niger, has often been framed as pivoting away from traditional Western partners, the inclusion of capitals such as Berlin, Rome, and Paris reflects a more pragmatic strategy: diversifying partnerships rather than abandoning them.

16.03.26 6actualités: Mali : Les ONG expriment leurs inquiétudes face à la nouvelle taxe envisagée par les autorités: Depuis plusieurs mois, des conversations s’élèvent autour d’une éventuelle reconfiguration du cadre fiscal applicable aux ONG et à leurs activités.

10.03.26 TRT Africa: Mali's capital Bamako faces diesel shortage: Drivers in the Malian capital are facing a diesel shortage because the national energy company is receiving priority supplies to cope with power outages.

Also see LM 25.03.26: Mali : la junte au pouvoir obligée de céder face aux groupes djihadistes en libérant 200 prisonniers: Les autorités n’ont d’autre choix que de faire des concessions face à la pression exercée par la filiale sahélienne d’Al-Qaida depuis plusieurs mois, notamment en décrétant le blocage des importations de carburant.

09.03.26 Reuters: US nears deal to resume intelligence operations in Mali: The U.S. is nearing a deal with Mali that will allow Washington to resume flying aircraft and drones over the West African country's airspace to gather intelligence on jihadist groups linked to al Qaeda

Also see Reuters 27.02.26: US lifts sanctions on top Malian officials as ties improve

Mauritania

24.03.26 rfi: Condamnant des «attaques répétées», la Mauritanie demande à ses éleveurs de ne pas aller au Mali: Dans un communiqué publié le 23 mars, le ministère de l'Intérieur donne pour consigne aux éleveurs mauritaniens de ne pas aller au Mali, pour leur sécurité.

Also see Apanewsn 18.03.26: Mali, Mauritania step up diplomacy amid border tensions

Niger

30.03.26 migreurop: 6e édition du festival Ajapama Kodo organisé par AEC Niger: Le thème central de cette 6e édition était : "Décrypter l’impérialismes des frontières pour contrer la déshumanisation des personnes migrantes dans les pays de transit". Le festival a regroupé des acteurs civiques, des expert·es, décideurs locaux, leaders coutumiers, de nombreuses personnes migrantes de différentes nationalités et citoyen·nes locaux.

29.03.26 Seneweb: Niger: Massive mobilization against a European Parliament resolution: Thousands of Nigeriens gathered on March 28, 2026 at Place de la Concertation in Niamey, at the call of civil society organizations, to denounce a European Parliament resolution deemed intrusive in the country's internal affairs.

29.03.26 rfi: Au Niger, il est interdit de diffuser des images de bénéficiaires d'aides alimentaires ou sociales: Pas de photos, pas de vidéos. Les personnes qui reçoivent - par exemple - des dons de produits alimentaires au Niger, ou tout autre type d'aide, ne doivent pas apparaître sur des images diffusées par les médias, ni par les organisations ou associations qui organisent ces opérations. Le ministère nigérien de l'Intérieur avait déjà interdit la diffusion d'images de bénéficiaires d'aides alimentaires ou sociales.

21.03.26 Africa News: Germany pulls embassy staff out of Niger citing concerns over growing jihadist violence: Berlin cited fears that Western nationals are prime targets for kidnappings carried out by terrorist groups and criminal gangs. The United States ordered its own embassy staff to leave the country in late January.

13.03.26 Africa News: Nearly 1,300 killed in Niger’s Tillabéri as jihadist attacks surge: Of the 1,939 deaths recorded in Niger last year by ACLED, nearly 1,300 occurred in the Tillabéri region. About half resulted from clashes between jihadist groups and Nigerien forces, while the other half came from attacks targeting civilians, ACLED analyst Heni Nsaibia told AFP.

04.03.26 Channel Africa: Niger Joins US Global Health Strategy: Niger has become the latest member of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to sign up to the United States Global Health Strategy.

Nigeria

23.03.26 EU: The European Union upgrades its relationship with Nigeria and announces significant new Global Gateway investments: European Union announced a new Team Europe investment package of EUR 290 million to be immediately mobilised in seven new operations in digitalisation, health and agricultural value chains as well as for migration management in the framework of the EU Global Gateway strategy. On migration, the EU is committing an additional EUR 16 million to support the reintegration of returning migrants.

03.03.26 AR: How Dangote refinery redrew global fuel trade flows in two years: By hitting full capacity and slashing European imports, the $20bn Dangote refinery has transformed Nigeria from a dependent consumer into a regional powerhouse, unsettling global trade flows from Lagos to Rotterdam.

Also see AR 02,03,26: Nigeria: MTN, Dangote Cement join trillion-naira profit club: A landmark shift in Nigeria’s corporate landscape sees industrial and telecom giants join the trillion-naira club, marking a decisive return to profitability and aggressive regional expansion.

Senegal

11.03.26 Clingendael: Talking Sovereignty, Practicing Alignmenten t: Segal’s Expanding Migration Cooperation with the EU: [Report] EU–Senegal cooperation has intensified, especially on migration management and security. However, the new government came to power with the promise of greater sovereignty and a break with Western influence. In 2023, Senegal became the main irregular migration departure point to Spain’s Canary Islands, with over 32,000 arrivals. Stricter cooperation and enforcement led to a decrease in the number of migrants reaching the Canary Islands via West-Africa. At the same time, concerns have been raised about enforcement practices by the Senegalese government.

Also see Medi1news 06.03.26: Sénégal : 139 migrants clandestins secourus après 11 jours de dérive en mer; EU 04.03.26: Partenariat Union européenne – Sénégal : Visite au Sénégal des Commissaires européens aux Partenariats internationaux et aux Affaires intérieures et à la migration

02.03.26 Reuters: Senegal PM says party could quit government if president diverges from vision: Senegal's Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said he was willing to take his party out of the government and return to opposition if President Bassirou Diomaye Faye breaks from its vision amid rumours of a power struggle between the two party colleagues.
Tensions have been high in the West African country following violence at universities and long drawn-out talks with the International Monetary Fund as Senegal battles to raise cash and negotiate a new lending programme with the IMF.

Sub Saharan Africa

DRC

05.03.26 AR: How Trump could take control of DRC’s Rubaya coltan mine from AFC/M23 rebels : On 5 February, during a meeting held in Washington, Kinshasa officially presented the US with an initial list of 25 priority mining assets that could fall under American companies, according to Reuters. The Rubaya site is on that list.

Republic of Congo

13.03.26 AJE: Poor in an oil-rich country: Republic of Congo’s youth hope for change: This Sunday, Congo goes to the polls in which President Denis Sassou Nguesso, 82, is again seeking another term. For young voters, jobs and the economy are a big concern. But for the government, there appear to be limitations to what is possible.

West Asia

31.03.26 NYT: Arab World Faces ‘Profound’ Economic Crisis From Iran War, U.N. Agency Warns: An economic simulation warned that the region’s economy could lose more than $190 billion in just one month, and that Gulf states that have often bankrolled reconstruction efforts will be less able to help.

30.03.26 Reuters: Fearing economic collapse after war, Iran cracks down on dissent: While there has been little sign so far of people defying draconian warnings not to protest, officials fear that damage to an already battered economy will spur mounting opposition to the ruling system once the conflict ends. Their most dangerous moment may, paradoxically, come once the bombing stops, when Iranians gaze upon the ruins of their economy and consider their bleak prospects.
At the forefront of internal control efforts is the Basij militia - a voluntary paramilitary organisation run by the Revolutionary Guards - which has set up checkpoints inside, and at the entrances to, major cities. However, there are signs that the Basij are short of manpower; senior Revolutionary Guards official Rahim Nadali announced on state television last week that they had dropped the minimum age for checkpoint and patrol volunteers to 12.
A senior source contacted in Iran said officials were focused on keeping supply chains running during the war but were increasingly concerned about what comes afterwards. Worry about future unrest is the main reason for the current crackdown, said a second source in Iran. A third said economic pressure might be more visible now as businesses reopen after the long Iranian holiday.

23.03.26 FA: America Has No Good Options in Iran: U.S. forces may get bogged down in air and sea operations that drag on for months or years, impose mounting costs on the global economy, destabilize the wider Middle East, and exact a growing toll on civilian populations in Iran, Israel, Lebanon, and beyond. As in past conflicts, the asymmetry at the heart of the war favors the weaker party.

20.03.26 Mediendienst: Mehr als 3 Millionen Menschen auf der Flucht vor dem Krieg: Seit Anfang des Krieges der USA und Israels gegen Iran mussten zwischen 1,9 und 3,2 Millionen Iraner*innen ihre Wohnorte verlassen, blieben jedoch im Land (Binnenflüchtlinge). Die meisten flüchteten aus den Städten in ländliche Regionen, die seltener von Luftangriffen betroffen sind (Stand: März 2026).
Nach Angaben der Internationalen Organisation für Migration (Stand: Mitte März 2026) gab es keinen signifikanten Anstieg der Ausreisen aus dem Iran. Rund 17.400 Iraner*innen sind dem UNHCR zufolge in die Türkei ausgereist (Iraner*innen können für 90 Tage ohne Visum einreisen). Rund 26.800 Personen sind nach Afghanistan ausgereist.
Der Iran und Libanon zählten schon vor den Angriffen zu den Ländern mit der größten Flüchtlingsbevölkerung weltweit. In der Region leben insgesamt rund 7 Millionen Flüchtlinge und mindestens 12 Millionen Binnenvertriebene

Also see Mediendienst 11.03.26: Iraner in Deutschland: In Deutschland leben 319.000 Personen mit einem iranischen Migrationshintergrund – eine der größten Communitys weltweit; taz 31.03.26: 177 Millionen Euro für den Nahen Osten: Reem Alabali Radovan kündigt ein Hilfspaket für die Region an. Der größte Einzelposten geht an den Libanon, der besonders vom Irankrieg betroffen ist.; IOM 24.03.26: 1M Displaced, 130K Cross Borders Amid Escalating Regional Conflict, New IOM Data: More than 130,000 people have crossed into the Syrian Arab Republic and over 1 million people have been displaced inside Lebanon since early March. Movements linked to the crisis in Lebanon continue, with over 130,000 individuals crossing into the Syrian Arab Republic between 2 and 18 March, according to DTM Syria, including Syrians (95%) and Lebanese nationals (5%); NYT 18.03.26: As Iran War Drags On, Europe Wants to Avoid a New Migration Crisis: In a call, Hakan Fidan, the Turkish foreign minister, assured Magnus Brunner, the European Union’s migration commissioner, that Turkey was working to avoid a repeat. Officials had hardened the Turkish border with Iran, Mr. Fidan said, and would work with Europe to block any new wave of refugees; Spiegel 07.03.26: Droht eine neue große Fluchtbewegung Richtung Europa?: Selbst wenn der Fluchtdruck steigen sollte, bedeutet das Knaus zufolge noch nicht, dass es auch zu einer großen Flüchtlingsbewegung kommt. »Die alles entscheidende Frage ist, wie die Staaten an der Grenze reagieren«, sagt der Experte. »Wenn sie Menschen einreisen lassen, kann es zu einer Migrationsbewegung kommen. Halten sie die Grenze geschlossen, passiert das eben nicht.«; Infomigrants 03.03.26: L'agence de l'UE pour l'asile alerte sur le risque d'un "flux de réfugiés" iraniens provoqué par les bombardements sur le pays: Pour l'heure, le scénario d'une grande vague de réfugiés iraniens est jusqu'ici "spéculatif" mais le sujet inquiète : il sera au menu des discussions entre les 27 ministres de l'Intérieur de l'UE. "Avec une population d'environ 90 millions d'habitants, même une déstabilisation partielle pourrait générer des flux de réfugiés d'une ampleur sans précédent", souligne le rapport de cette agence spécialisée; Reuters 02.03.26: Hundreds of Iranians cross border into Turkey, witness says: Hundreds of Iranians crossed the border into Turkey on Monday afternoon as the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran expanded, a Reuters witness said, with those arriving speaking of fear in Tehran and queues at petrol stations.

19.03.26 MERIP: War Across Boundaries–Perspectives on Iran and a Region Under Siege: MERIP asked our contributors and editors to reflect on how we got here, where things may be headed and which dynamics, from Christian Zionism to the crisis of Gulf security to the impact on Afghanistan, they think, demand closer attention. These 11 perspectives are not exhaustive, but they offer a critical lens on the present moment.

Also see FA 26.03.26: Iran’s Long Game: Decades of Preparation Are Paying Off; FA 17.03.26: How America’s War on Iran Backfired: Tehran Will Now Set the Terms for Peace; AR 16.03.26: Red Sea dynamics: How the Iran conflict is rewiring Horn of Africa diplomacy; Reuters 12.03.26: US intelligence says Iran government is not at risk of collapse, say sources

16.03.26 NYT: Could This Be the End of Dubai?: [Op-ed Robert Florida]The war is a reminder that no city, no matter how go-go and glamorous, can buy its way out of the forces of history and geography. Any serious disruption can send the mobile and the unattached off seeking a different safe haven.

Israel:

30.03.26 Guardian: Israel passes law to give death penalty to Palestinians convicted of lethal attacks: The legislation makes the death penalty the default punishment for Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank found guilty of intentionally carrying out deadly attacks deemed acts of terrorism by a military court.

29.03.26 AJE: Dozens detained in Tel Aviv as anti-war protest turns violent: Police in Tel Aviv dispersed hundreds of protesters on Saturday opposing Israel’s operation with the US against Iran, now in its second month. Up to 18 people have been arrested so far, according to local media, as wartime restrictions on gatherings remain in place.

25.03.26 Reuters: Israel's military to occupy swathe of southern Lebanon, defence minister says: Israel will occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, an area Defence Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday described as a "security zone", spelling out for the first time ‌Israel's intent to seize territory amounting to nearly a tenth of the country.

Also see NYT 31.03.26: Israel Signals Plans to Occupy Southern Lebanon After Ground Invasion; AJE 23.03.26: Smotrich urges Israel to annex southern Lebanon as assault intensifies

25.03.26 Reuters: Netanyahu seeks to avoid snap vote as Iran war gives no boost in polls: In the war's first days, Netanyahu's camp saw a chance for his right-wing coalition to capitalize on the opening ‌salvo that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by holding elections ahead of an expected October date, a source familiar with Netanyahu's political strategy said. But nearly four weeks into a war that has so far failed to achieve a stated objective of toppling Iran's clerical rulers, Israel's longest-serving prime minister is looking to stave off early elections

22.03.26 Guardian: Israeli settlers carry out series of West Bank attacks as security forces stand by: Witnesses describe coordinated raids in which homes and vehicles were set on fire and several Palestinians injured

Also see +972 04.03.26: With West Bank under total Israeli closure, settlers are seizing the moment: raeli settlers have killed two Palestinians and raided dozens of villages amid the war with Iran, as the army restricts movement and backs up the attackers.; +972 24.03.26: ‘Erasing the lines’: How settler outposts are seizing new regions of the West Bank

20.03.26 FA: The Two Israels: A Socioeconomic Divide Shapes the Country’s Politics—and Its Aggressive Foreign Policy: There is still hope for the Jewish state. But this much is certain: Israel has a tough road ahead.

Lebanon

10.03.26 NYT: Nearly 700,000 Displaced by War in Lebanon, U.N. Says: Mass evacuation orders and an intensifying Israeli bombing campaign targeting the Iran-backed militia Hezbollah have caused a humanitarian crisis, aid groups war.

Also see NYT 26.03.26: Displaced by War, Many Seek Shelter in Beirut; taz 06.03.26: Massenflucht im Libanon: Israel hat in Teilen des Libanon Menschen zur Flucht aufgefordert. Im Süd- und Ostlibanon und im Süden Beiruts fliehen viele mit allem, was sie tragen können;

Pakistan

18.03.26 NYT: Pakistan Pauses Afghanistan Airstrikes After Outrage Over Civilian Deaths: The announcement came two days after a Pakistani airstrike hit a drug rehabilitation center in the Afghan capital, Kabul — the deadliest single strike in an escalating conflict that has already killed hundreds and displaced 40,000 people in Afghanistan and put Pakistan on edge.

Also see AJE 04.03.26: Nearly 66,000 Afghans displaced amid fierce fighting on Pakistan border: UN: “The ongoing military confrontation along the Durand Line has reportedly resulted in civilian casualties, damage to critical infrastructure, and the displacement of nearly 66,000 people in eastern and southeastern Afghanistan,” the agency said in a statement.

Mediterranean

24.03.26 LM: Fabrice Leggeri, ex-directeur de Frontex et eurodéputé RN, visé par une enquête pour complicité de crimes contre l’humanité: La Ligue des droits de l’homme (LDH) et l’association de défense des migrants Utopia 56 ont obtenu satisfaction après plus deux ans. Un juge d’instruction sera bientôt saisi pour enquêter sur l’eurodéputé RN Fabrice Leggeri, ancien directeur de Frontex, soupçonné de complicité de crimes contre l’humanité et de torture, a déclaré mardi 24 mars à l’Agence France-Presse (AFP) une source judiciaire.

05.03.26 MMC: The Evolving Route of Bangladeshi Migration to Italy through Libya: Around 14,000 Bangladeshi nationals arrived irregularly in Italy via Libya in 2024 and an estimated 20,000 in 2025. Bangladesh has become the leading nationality on the Central Mediterranean route.

Europe

Belgium

04.03.26 Le Soir: Van Bossuyt maintient le gel de l’accueil des demandeurs d’asile malgré l’arrêt de la Cour constitutionnelle : « Une violation de l’Etat de droit »: La ministre de l’Asile et de la Migration poursuit sa politique de refus d’accueil pour les demandeurs d’asile ayant déjà obtenu une protection ailleurs dans l’UE, malgré la suspension récente décidée par la Cour constitutionnelle. « C’est inédit, et c’est vraiment très grave », dénonce une constitutionnaliste.

Bulgaria

16.03.26 Alltrreconomia: Bulgaria prigione d’Europa. Continua il “lavoro sporco” in vista del Patto migrazione e asilo: Il Paese segue il modello ungherese basato su detenzione indiscriminata e respingimenti illegali, facendoli passare per “ingressi impediti” o “allontanamenti volontari”. La prassi repressiva non è più una sperimentazione. Reportage dal centro di detenzione per persone straniere di Lyubimets, e da quello di “accoglienza” ad Harmanli (Full text: https://seenthis.net/messages/1164007)

France

31.03.26 franceinfo: Pas de kits d’hygiène, promiscuité entre femmes et hommes... Douze associations dénoncent des conditions de détention "indignes" à la frontière franco-italienne: Douze associations, dont l’Anafé et Médecins du Monde, ont saisi, début mars, les tribunaux administratifs de Nice et de Marseille afin de mettre fin "aux atteintes graves aux libertés fondamentales" notamment dans les locaux de la police aux frontières de Menton. Elles y dénoncent des conditions d’hébergement jugées "indignes".

Germany

31.03.26 Spiegel: Opposition und SPD kritisieren Kanzler für Pläne zur Ausreise von Syrern: Merz hatte nach einem Treffen mit dem syrischen Übergangspräsidenten Ahmed al-Sharaa im Kanzleramt als Zielmarke genannt, dass in den nächsten drei Jahren 80 Prozent der mehr als 900.000 Syrer in Deutschland in ihr Heimatland zurückkehren sollten.

Also see Spiegel 01.04.26: Syrischer Präsident bestreitet 80-Prozent-Aussage – und deutet auf Merz

17.03.26 GFP: Abschiebung in den Krieg: Deutschland intensiviert die Abschiebungen nach Afghanistan trotz der Menschenrechtslage und trotz eines neuen Krieges zwischen Afghanistan und Pakistan. Eine Ursache des Krieges sind Grenzkonflikte, die auf die Kolonialzeit zurückgehen.

16.03.26 Infomigrants: Germany moves to end funding for independent asylum counseling: Germany’s interior ministry has signaled it will stop funding independent asylum counseling services starting next year. Opponents warn that ending the program could undermine legal safeguards for migrants and slow down asylum procedures.

Also see Tagesspiehel 18.03.26: Kürzungen bei Asylberatung: Das Recht existiert nur noch auf dem Papier

Italy

27.02.26 Infomigrants: Externalisation de l'asile : l'Italie accélère les transferts de migrants vers l'Albanie: Ces deux dernières semaines, les autorités italiennes ont augmenté les transferts de migrants vers son centre controversé de Gjader, en Albanie, d'où certains pourront demander l'asile. Ces envois vers l'Albanie interviennent alors que de nouvelles mesures ont été adoptées par le Parlement européen, visant à faciliter le renvoi par les États membres des demandeurs d'asile vers des pays que l'Europe considère comme "sûrs".

Spain

02.03.26 Reuters: US aircraft leave Spain after government says bases cannot be used for Iran attacks: Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Spain would not allow its military bases, which are jointly operated by the U.S. and Spain but under Spanish sovereignty, to be used for attacks on Iran, which Spain has condemned.

19.03.26 BBC: UK agrees deal to ease migrant returns to Nigeria: For the first time, the Nigerian government will recognise UK letters - an identification document issued to individuals without a valid passport - so people will no longer have to wait for emergency travel documents to be issued before they can be returned.
The agreement was struck during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu state visit to the UK.

Also see Reuters 19.03.26: UK and Nigeria agree billion-dollar export finance deal to refurbish ports

10.03.26 AR: Is Britain sacrificing Sudanese and Cameroonian students to appease migration hardliners?: The UK government last week announced it would no longer issue education visas to applicants from Sudan and Cameroon, extending similar restrictions already imposed on Afghanistan and Myanmar.
The Home Office said the move was part of a broader effort to curb asylum claims by people who enter the country through legal routes such as student visas before later applying for protection.

European Union

17.03.26 Mediendienst: Die EU-Rückführungsverordnung: Return Hubs und die Neuregelung des deutschen Abschiebesystems: Die neue EU-Rückführungsverordnung steht kurz vor der Abstimmung im Europäischen Parlament. Die Verordnung wird unmittelbar in den EU-Mitgliedsstaaten gelten

Also see migreurop 26.03.26: Adoption du règlement européen « retour » : la mise à mort du droit international; taz 26.03.26: Abschiebungen ohne Grenzen dank „Return Hubs“ ; Guardian 26.03.26: MEPs back plans for ‘return hubs’, raising fears of ‘human rights black holes’ ecre 13.03.26: OP-ED: EU Return Policy at a Crossroads; LM 09.03.26: Immigration : les eurodéputés adoptent des nouvelles règles d’expulsion des sans-papiers avec une majorité de droite et d’extrême droite

11.03.26 Statewatch: Frontex's European blackmail over migrants’ ‘voluntary’ returns: With a 22,900% increase in so-called 'voluntary' returns over the last six years, and a budget in excess of €1 billion, Frontex is fast becoming the protagonist in Europe's border control policy

Reports and Long Reads

Statewatch Bulletin #14: Outsourcing Borders: Monitoring EU externalisation policy

25.03.26 borderforensics: How ‘stopping the boats’ kills: A digital counter-forensic investigation of the human cost of the UK’s externalised border in the Channel: How ‘stopping the boats’ kills presents findings from a year-long collaborative investigation by researchers at the ESRC Centre for Sociodigital Futures at the University of Bristol, and Border Forensics, an independent research agency based in Geneva, Switzerland. The report demonstrates how the UK government’s ‘Stop the Boats’ policies, and over £625 million given to the French to prevent departures, have directly contributed to a sharp rise in deaths of people attempting to cross the Channel in so-called small boats.

11.03.26 Mediendienst: Zehn Jahre EU-Türkei-Deal: Das Abkommen war der erste Versuch der Europäischen Union, Flüchtlinge und ihre Asylverfahren in Drittstaaten außerhalb der EU auszulagern – und bietet Erkenntnisse für die künftige EU-Asylpolitik.

09.03.26 SOS Mediteranee: STILL AT SEA: Ten Years of Rescue in the Central Mediterranean: [Report] From 2016 to 2025, the organization assisted 43,078 people in distress through 457 rescue operations, first with the Aquarius and later with the Ocean Viking.

05.03.26 MMC: The Evolving Route of Bangladeshi Migration to Italy through Libya: [Report] Around 14,000 Bangladeshi nationals arrived irregularly in Italy via Libya in 2024 and an estimated 20,000 in 2025. Bangladesh has become the leading nationality on the Central Mediterranean route. Although these arrivals remain small compared to the more than one million documented labour departures from Bangladesh each year — primarily to Gulf states and Malaysia — they raise a central question: why would migrants from a country so embedded in formal labour migration systems travel thousands of kilometres to Libya and take this long and risky route to Italy?

Also see MMC 05.03.26: How Bangladeshi migration to Italy via Libya operates: In 2025 Bangladeshis accounted for around 31% of all irregular sea arrivals to Italy. Bangladesh is also an important labour-sending country to Italy through formal migration channels.

04.03.26 migreurop: EU updates - December 2025/February 2026: As part of her volunteering mission with Migreurop in partnership with Euromed Rights in Brussels (2025-2026), Jeanne Olivet publishes a trimonthly column in which she summarises the latest news on European migration policies

03.03.26 Statewatch: EU border externalisation: updates for Iraq and Bangladesh: Two 'action files' obtained by Statewatch update European government ministers on the state of counter-migration spending and projects in Bangladesh and Iraq. Both countries were recently reported by the EU to be cooperating more on deportations of their citizens from Europe, and these 'action files' reveal considerable effort from the EU to further restrict migration.

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