Monthly Review April 2025

May 3rd, 2025

This monthly press review covers Eurafrican migration control, migration and displacement in African and West Asian countries and news on the EUropean border regime.

Please note: We link to sites purely on editorial merit. The inclusion of a link to an external website should not be understood to be an endorsement of that website or the site's owners (or products/services).

As an exception, this issue begins with worrying global developments and the latest plans by the US Administration regarding migration.

28.04.25 France 24: Global military spending hits record $2.7 trillion in 2024, sharpest rise since Cold War: Worldwide military expenditure surged to $2.7 trillion in 2024, marking the sharpest annual increase since the Cold War, driven by escalating conflicts and geopolitical tensions, SIPRI reported Monday. Europe and the Middle East saw the steepest rises, with some European nations posting "unprecedented" spending hikes, the research institute said. „We've seen many European countries cutting other spending like international aid to fund the increase in military spending, and ... trying to raise taxes or rely on loans or debt to fund the spending,“

14.04.25 NYT: This Company’s Surveillance Tech Makes Immigrants ‘Easy Pickings’ for Trump: "Geo Group is the largest private prison operator in the United States. Over the past decade, the company has also built a lucrative side business of digital tools — including ankle monitors, smart watches and tracking apps — to surveil immigrants on behalf of the federal government. Those products are now aiding President Trump’s deportation efforts by providing the whereabouts of unauthorized immigrants to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to legal aid groups and immigration organizations."

All Africa

21.04.25 Der Spiegel: US-Regierung erwägt, Aktivitäten in Afrika drastisch zurückzufahren: "Die Trump-Regierung sieht womöglich eine drastische Umstrukturierung des Außenministeriums vor, einschließlich der Abschaffung fast aller Afrika-Aktivitäten sowie der Schließung von Botschaften und Konsulaten auf dem gesamten Kontinent."

16.04.25 TNH: What if we stopped aid altogether?: "[...] host governments, like my own in Uganda, have perfected what I call the refugee chase game. They host refugees not out of pan-African solidarity or hospitality, but as a means to court dollars and soft power – often to distract us from their deep domestic governance failings."

14.04.25 Africa live: Horn von Afrika, West- und Zentralafrika: EU stockt humanitäre Hilfe auf: "Die von humanitären Krisen am Horn von Afrika und in West- und Zentralafrika betroffenen Menschen erhalten von der EU-Kommission 258 Millionen Euro an humanitärer Hilfe. Die Mittel werden unter anderem für Nahrungsmittelhilfe und Existenzsicherung, Gesundheitsfürsorge, Wasser, Hygiene und Bildung verwendet."

09.04.24 Africa Report: The Chinese obsession with Africa’s illegal donkey skins for beauty products: "Despite a continent-wide ban, illegal trafficking of the beasts of burden continues to thrive in Africa, with local communities caught in the crossfire of Chinese demand for ejiao gelatin."

04.04.25 Africa Report: Trump dismantles USAID: The country‑by‑country breakdown: "A 26 March analysis of the agency’s recent notification to Congress by the Center for Global Development (CDG) revealed that potentially all funding for such areas as private sector competitiveness, higher education and political competition and consensus building has been terminated. Other sectors cut by 90% or more include infrastructure, good governance, basic education, family planning, civil society, conflict mitigation, and trade and investment. Ethiopia and DRC are at the top of the list of countries worldwide set to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in proposed cuts to aid programmes."

See also ACLED 04.04.25: Belt of Wars in Africa, Updated.

North Africa

03.04.25 Infomigrants: L'Italie annonce une enveloppe de 20 millions d'euros pour financer des "retours volontaires" depuis la Tunisie, la Libye et l'Algérie: "Rome a annoncé mercredi un programme de 20 millions d'euros pour aider 3 300 migrants en situation irrégulière en Tunisie, Libye et Algérie à rentrer chez eux. Ces "retours volontaires" organisés par l'Organisation internationale des migrations (OIM) "s'inscrivent dans une stratégie plus large visant à lutter contre l'immigration illégale", s'est félicité le ministre italien de l'Intérieur, Matteo Piantedosi."

Algeria

27.04.25 Algerie Eco: Le président Tebboune évoque l’emploi de la main-d’œuvre subsaharienne en Algérie: "´Nous n’avons aucune objection. Nous avons d’excellentes relations avec tous les peuples d’Afrique, et plus particulièrement ceux des pays du Sahel. Certes, nous ne sommes pas d’accord avec les putschistes dans certains pays, mais pas avec les peuples. Dans cette région, les liens familiaux sont profonds et denses`, a-t-il déclaré selon le journal El Watan. Le président Tebboune a donné l’exemple des ´familles algériennes et maliennes à Bordj Badji Mokhtar et à Tin Zaouatine (côté malien) qui ne sont séparées que par les frontières`. Il a ajouté : ´C’est pourquoi, nous n’avons pas de problèmes à ce que les migrants subsahariens travaillent en Algérie. Les chantiers sont là et les gens ont besoin de main-d’œuvre, notamment dans l’agriculture. À condition que leur entrée sur le territoire soit organisée`. Cette déclaration pose la question de l’ouverture officielle du marché du travail aux migrants africains."

25.04.25 Alarm Phone Sahara: Urgent alert: Stop the inhumane mass deportations from Algeria to Niger! "During the weeks of April, the cruel mass deportations from Algeria to the Niger border at Assamaka have escalated alarmingly. According to security officials in Assamaka, between 1 and 21 April 2025, 2753 Nigerien citizens, including 308 minors and 196 women, were deported from Algeria in so-called official convoys. In addition, during the same period, 2222 people deported in so-called unofficial convoys, including 146 Nigerien citizens and 2076 nationals of other countries, also arrived in Assamaka, having been forced to walk about 15 km on foot from ‘Point Zero’. In total, since the beginning of 2025, more than 7,000 people have already been deported from Algeria to Niger."

See also Alarm Phone 25.04.25: More than 1,800 migrants expelled from Algeria into Niger, rights group says

17.04.25 Andolou: L’Algérie et la Mauritanie signent un accord de coopération dans le domaine de la défense: "La coopération entre l’Algérie et la Mauritanie s’est nettement intensifiée ces cinq dernières années, portée par des échanges réguliers entre les présidents Abdelmadjid Tebboune et Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, et concrétisée par des projets structurants, tels que la construction d’une route terrestre, l’aménagement d’un poste-frontière et la création d’une zone de libre-échange."

14.04.25 AJE: Algeria orders exit of French officials amid rocky relations: "The diplomatic spat threatens to upend recent efforts to normalise strained relations between France and its former North African colony, including a visit to Algeria by Barrot a week ago."

10.04.25 LMD: Stillstand nach dem Ende der Bewegung: "Die Machthaber des Militärs sind sich der wirtschaftlichen und diplomatischen Misserfolge Algeriens durchaus bewusst – wie der französisch-marokkanischen Annäherung in der Westsahara oder der zunehmenden Feindseligkeit der Sahel-Staaten. Doch die Verantwortung für diese Fehlentwicklungen schieben die Generäle regelmäßig auf die ´unfähigen Zivilisten`."

07.04.25 AJE: Algeria closes airspace to Mali aircraft as drone row escalates: "Algeria has banned flights to and from Mali for ´recurrent violations` of Algerian airspace, a week after it shot down a drone belonging to its neighbour. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger recall ambassadors to Algeria amid deteriorating relations and shooting down of Mali drone."

Egypt

03.04.25 ECRE: The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has suspended most of its programmes in Egypt due to serious budget cuts: "The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has suspended most of its programmes in Egypt due to serious budget cuts. ´The lack of available funds and deep uncertainty over the level of donor contributions this year has forced UNHCR to suspend all medical treatment for refugees in Egypt except emergency life-saving procedures, affecting around 20,000 patients,` the agency wrote in a press release issued on 25 March."

Libya

06.04.25 DW: Libyen: Hotspot des Menschenschmuggels: "Mit Hilfe seiner Privatmiliz (Tariq bin-Ziad-Brigade) habe Saddam Haftar eine komplexe Infrastruktur für den professionellen Menschenschmuggel aufgebaut, schreibt Experte Megerisi in seiner Studie. Diese könnten transnationale Menschenhändler- und Schmuggelnetzwerke gegen eine Gebühr dann nutzen. Leidtragende sind die Menschen, die oftmals hohe Risiken eingehen und viele Entbehrungen in Kauf nehmen in der Hoffnung, später in Europa ein besseres Leben führen zu können. Mitunter seien von Migranten Summen in Höhe von 9000 US-Dollar zu entrichten, so Megerisi. Europa könne dem Menschenschmuggel am besten entgegenwirken, indem es Migranten sichere Routen anbiete und ankommende Menschen effektiv kontrolliere, meint Megerisi. ´So ließe sich den Menschenschmugglern das Geschäft entreißen, und Europa nähme die Kontrolle in die eigene Hand`."

Morocco

14.04.25 ASGI: Morocco: Border policies at the root of forced disappearances and human rights violations: "The field research conducted between October and November 2024 documents a system of arbitrary detention and internal expulsions that systematically affects those who attempt to cross the borders into Europe, especially sub-Saharan migrants, also arrested in inner cities. These practices also affect people under UNHCR protection, minors and vulnerable people, and follow a deeply racial logic of control and repression."

06.04.25 AJE: Mass protests in Morocco against Israel’s war in Gaza and US support: "Tens of thousands of Moroccans have taken to the streets to protest against Israel’s punishing assault on Gaza and its people, also directing their anger at the United States and its support for the 18-month-long war. The Morocco protests echoed similar demonstrations across the Middle East and North Africa, where pro-Palestinian rallies took place in Tunisia, Yemen, and Morocco’s economic hub, Casablanca."

Tunisia

28.04.25 Infomigrants: Tunisie : huit migrants morts et 29 secourus après le naufrage d’un bateau: "La Garde nationale tunisienne a indiqué lundi que huit migrants avaient été retrouvés morts après le naufrage de leur bateau au large de la Tunisie. Vingt-neuf personnes ont par ailleurs pu être secourues."

See also Alarmphone on X, 01.05.25

14.04.25 ND: Flüchtlingscamps in Tunesien: Die große Vertreibung: "Die Räumung der Olivenhaine in Tunesien dauert an. Sicherheitskräfte zerstören Zeltlager und gehen brutal gegen Geflüchtete vor."

14.04.25 taz: Schauprozess gegen Kritiker des Staates: "In Tunesien wird ein Verfahren wegen „Verschwörung“ zum Gradmesser politischer Freiheit. Präsident Said gewährt sie seinem Volk immer weniger."

See also taz 19.04.25: 13 bis 66 Jahre Haft für mehrere Oppositionelle

East Africa

21.04.25 AfricaReport: Aramco and Alpha MBM push UAE oil power in Uganda and Kenya: "The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is strengthening foreign policy to build influence in East Africa and countries along the Red Sea as it secures large investment deals in the region’s oil and gas sector."

Ethiopia

23.04.25 TNH: “I am going to Saudi Arabia, or my grave”: The exodus of Ethiopia’s frustrated youth [background report]: "In 2018, after massive protests led by the Qeerroo, Ethiopia’s prime minister resigned. The man chosen to succeed him, Abiy Ahmed, would be the first leader in Ethiopian history to openly identify as an Oromo. He promised a future of political freedom and economic prosperity. But seven years after Abiy was sworn in, the brighter future the Qeerroo hoped he would usher in has failed to materialise. Many Oromos who choose to migrate use the so-called Eastern Route, seeking to cross the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden into Yemen, with the ultimate goal of reaching Saudi Arabia. While the trend has traditionally been young men, there was a sharp increase in women and girls making the journey – accounting for nearly one third of all migrants using the route in 2024."

04.04.24 ACLED: Ethiopia: Battles surge amid a Fano offensive in Amhara: "In March, Fano militias announced the commencement of new coordinated operations in the Amhara region and the desire to merge several factions of the movement. The announcement prompted a surge in armed activity. ACLED records over 150 battles in Amhara last month, the most since the onset of the Fano insurgency in April 2023. The Fano, fragmented groups of armed youth generally recruited from the Amhara region, have been fighting against the federal military forces for areas understood to be homelands of the Amhara people."

Somalia

16.04.25 AJE: Al-Shabab fighters attack strategic town in central Somalia: "The al-Shabab armed group has claimed to have seized control of Adan Yabaal, a town in central Somalia and a logistical hub for the government forces, about 220 kilometres (130 miles) north of the capital, Mogadishu. The fighters launched the raids before dawn on Wednesday, forcing the army to retreat after fierce battles, according to a security officer quoted by the Anadolu news agency."

Somaliland

07.04.25 AfricaReport: The Battle for Berbera: Inside the global scramble for Somaliland’s strategic Red Sea port: "Strategically perched on the Gulf of Aden just across from Yemen, Berbera, in Somaliland, is emerging as one of the Horn of Africa’s most coveted assets. As global attention remains fixed on the Red Sea, where Houthi attacks have disrupted shipping lanes and threatened one of the world’s most vital maritime chokepoints, the lesser-known port city is quietly drawing the interest of military planners and policymakers alike."

South Sudan

17.04.25 D Sp.: Uno warnt vor »humanitärem Albtraum« im Südsudan: "Im Südsudan droht ein innenpolitischer Konflikt zu eskalieren. Nun fürchtet die Uno einen Rückfall in den 2018 beendeten Bürgerkrieg. Zehntausende Menschen wurden in den vergangenen Wochen bereits vertrieben."

Sudan

29.04.24 SWM: Rapid Support Forces execute civilians in Omdurman: "The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Sunday [April 27] conducted a mass execution of approximately 25-30 civilians in Omdurman, Khartoum State, drawing widespread condemnation following the circulation of graphic video evidence online. The incident took place deep inside RSF-controlled territory and highlights a breakdown of military discipline within RSF command structures."

19.04.24 NYT: Trump’s Aid Cuts Hit the Hungry in a City of Shellfire and Starvation: "The stark consequences of the rollback are evident in few places as clearly as in Sudan, where a brutal civil war has combined with a staggering humanitarian catastrophe."

17.04.25 France24: European weapons in Sudan (1/5): Bulgarian mortar shells in Darfur’s desert: "From a Bulgarian factory to Sudanese militias, the FRANCE 24 Observers team reveals how European-made ammunition ended up on the Sudanese battlefield despite a European Union embargo."

16.05.taz: Mehr Hilfe für Sudans Kriegsopfer: "Zwei Jahre nach Beginn des Bürgerkriegs im Sudan haben die Teilnehmer einer internationalen Sudan-Konferenz in London am Dienstag zusätzliche humanitäre Hilfe von mehr als 800 Millionen Euro angekündigt. Die Sudan-Konferenz hat Großbritannien gemeinsam mit der Afrikanischen Union (AU), der Europäischen Union (EU), Frankreich und Deutschland ausgerichtet. Zu den weiteren Teilnehmern gehörten die UNO, Ägypten, Kenia und die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate (VAE) – aber nicht die beiden Kriegsparteien Sudans selbst."

15.04.25 SWM: Investigation: Sudan Army Commits Mass Executions in Captured Territories [Background report]: "This particular article addresses a pattern of crimes perpetrated by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). As the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) advanced in central Sudan, including in the capital Khartoum, it carried out executions against both prisoners of war and civilians suspected of collaborating with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). SAF soldiers and proxy forces also rounded up and killed people simply for belonging to certain minority ethnic groups, particularly Darfuris, Nuba, and South Sudanese, whom SAF propagandists have portrayed as enemies of the state."

See also SWM 26.04.25: Mass arrests in El Fasher after military suffers setback

15.04.25 SWM: Sudanese army reaches Gondahar market in Ombada: "The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have expanded their control in Omdurman, the capital Khartoum region’s largest city, to reach the Gondahar market, a site of heavy aerial bombardments that killed hundreds of civilians, if not thousands, during the course of the deadly civil war."

15.04.25 AJE: Sudan paramilitary declares rival government two years into civil war: "The RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo — also known as Hemedti — declared on Tuesday the establishment of the “Government of Peace and Unity” in areas under its control. The move directly challenges the army-led administration headed by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan."

See also NYT 15.04.25: Sudanese Paramilitary Group Declares Parallel Government as 400,000 Flee Offensive; AJE 29.03.25 Is Sudan’s war merging with South Sudanese conflicts?: "New alliances in Sudan’s civil war risk sparking a regional conflict by drawing in neighbouring South Sudan, analysts tell Al Jazeera. The biggest development was an alliance in February between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who established a government to rival Sudan’s current de facto leadership."

15.04.25 taz: „Zamzam wird jetzt systematisch zerstört“: "Sudans größtes Kriegsvertriebenenlager in Darfur ist an die RSF-Miliz gefallen. Das Schicksal Hunderttausender entkräfteter Menschen ist unbekannt."

14.04.25 Guardian: Leaked UN experts report raises fresh concerns over UAE’s role in Sudan war: "Pressure is mounting on the United Arab Emirates over its presence at a crucial conference in London aimed at stopping the war in Sudan after a leaked confidential UN report raised fresh questions over the UAE’s role in the devastating conflict. The UAE has been accused of secretly supplying weapons to Sudanese paramilitaries via neighbouring Chad, a charge it has steadfastly denied. However an internal report – marked highly confidential and seen by the Guardian – detected “multiple” flights from the UAE in which transport planes made apparently deliberate attempts to avoid detection as they flew into bases in Chad where arms smuggling across the border into Sudan has been monitored."

11.04.25 THH: Sudan in-depth: Aid efforts blocked and weaponised amid sweeping cuts and army gains: "As Sudan’s war nears its two-year mark, aid efforts are being sabotaged by deep funding cuts and systematic obstruction by the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Two aid officials expressed concern that as international organisations fight for their survival, they may end up competing with local responders for dwindling resources – undermining a collaboration that had been strengthening over the past year."

West Africa and Sahel

24 03.04.25: Livestock theft is central to jihadist economy in west Africa: "Livestock theft provides Boko Haram with a major source of revenue, as members resell some of the animals at local markets to support their operations in the Lake Chad region. The method of criminal financing is also used by other jihadist groups in the Sahel region, where livestock is a coveted resource."

See also 19.04.25 AJE: Herder-farmer clashes in Nigeria kill at least 56

17.04.25 IPG: Allianz der Abtrünnigen: "In Westafrika fordern drei Militärregierungen die Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft ECOWAS heraus: Der Region droht ein Handelskonflikt."

10.04.25 F24: West African bloc raises 'deep concern' over Algeria-Mali dispute: "On Monday [April 7], the two countries closed their airspace to each others' aircraft, the latest escalation in a row over accusations that Algeria shot down a Malian drone."

07.04.25 AfricaCenter: The Shifting Front of Militant Islamist Violence in the Sahel: "Militant Islamist violence in the Sahel continues to shift southward and westward, putting ever more pressure on population centers in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—as well as on their coastal West African neighbors."

03.04.25 rfi: Les chefs de la diplomatie de l’AES à Moscou: la Russie dit intensifier sa coopération militaire avec le Mali: "La Russie s'est félicitée ce jeudi 3 avril d'un renforcement de sa coopération militaire avec le Mali, à l'occasion d'une visite à Moscou des chefs de la diplomatie de l'Alliance des États du Sahel (AES), une nouvelle étape dans la structuration de leur relation avec la Russie."

30.0443.25 JA: Le Mali, le Niger et le Burkina Faso instaurent un droit de douane commun: "Le Mali, le Niger et le Burkina Faso, qui ont quitté la Cedeao pour se réunir dans l’Alliance des États du Sahel (AES), ont instauré un droit de douane commun de 0,5 % sur les importations venant de pays non membres de leur confédération, selon une décision de leur organisation publiée samedi."

Benin

20.04.25 Reuters: Al Qaeda affiliate says it killed 70 soldiers in Benin, SITE reports: "Al Qaeda affiliate JNIM said it killed 70 soldiers in raids on two military posts in north Benin, the biggest death count claimed by jihadists in the country in over a decade of activity in West Africa, the SITE Intelligence Group said on Saturday. The West African state and its coastal neighbour Togo have suffered a series of attacks in recent years as groups linked to Islamic State and al Qaeda have expanded their presence beyond the Sahel region to the north."

Burkina Faso

14.04.25 RFI: Burkina Faso: la ville de Djibo toujours sous la menace des jihadistes: "Dans le nord du Burkina Faso, Djibo a de nouveau été attaquée ce 10 avril. Les postes avancés de l'armée, situés à la sortie de la ville, ont subi un assaut revendiqué par les terroristes du JNIM. Les habitants ont entendu des tirs nourris pendant une bonne partie de la matinée. Depuis trois ans, la ville de Djibo, chef-lieu de la province du Soum dans le nord du Faso, vit sous blocus imposé par les jihadistes."

01.04.25 LM: Le Burkina Faso publie une liste de personnes recherchées, des djihadistes aux journalistes: "Cette fois, aux côtés de ces djihadistes ´activement recherchés`, figurent également des journalistes comme Abdoulaye Barry ou Newton Ahmed Barry, par ailleurs ancien président de la commission électorale. Les services de sécurité burkinabés les avaient accusés en septembre 2024 de faire partie d’un projet de déstabilisation du régime, impliquant également des anciens militaires et des groupes djihadistes."

See also HRW 02.04.25: Burkina Faso’s Relentless Crackdown on Dissent, Media

Chad

25.04.25 DefeenceBlog: Chad receives Chinese-made air defense systems: Chad has reportedly taken delivery of two Chinese-made FK-2000 air defense systems, supplied by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of ongoing military support initiatives. According to local sources, the systems were purchased by the UAE from China and transferred to Chad to enhance the country’s air defense capabilities.

22.04.25 HungaryToday: Soldiers to Mentor Chadian Army in Counter-Terrorism Exercise: "NATO allies and their African partners will conduct a joint exercise to improve counter-terrorism capabilities and cooperation. ´Flintlock 2025` will take place in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), during which the Hungarian participating personnel will mentor the Chadian unit. The Hungarian government insists on the principle of taking help to the source of the trouble, says the portal, adding that terrorism is one of the root causes of the illegal migration that is affecting Europe, including Hungary."

Ivory Coast

24.05.24 taz: Wahlkampf in der ElfenbeinküsteAusschluss statt Konkurrenz: Ein Gericht schloss am Dienstagabend den wichtigsten Oppositionskandidaten Tidjane Thiam von den Wahlen aus. Einer Wiederwahl des seit 2011 amtierenden 83-jährigen Alassane Ouattara am 25. Oktober steht nun wohl nichts mehr im Wege.

Mali

24.04.24 rfi: Au Mali, l'angoisse des familles après la découverte de corps près du camp militaire de Kwala: "Au Mali, l’angoisse grandit parmi les proches de personnes enlevées par l’armée malienne et les supplétifs de Wagner, le 12 avril dernier, dans l’ouest du pays. Une angoisse ravivée par la découverte de treize corps en état de décomposition avancée et difficiles à identifier, non loin du camp militaire de Kwala, dans la nuit de lundi à mardi."

16.04.25 Reuters: IMF approves $129 million for Mali from credit facility: "The IMF on Wednesday said it would release $129 million to Mali from its Rapid Credit Facility that will help the country address balance of payment needs following floods there."

Mauritania

25.04.25 Infomigrants: À Rosso, à la frontière entre le Sénégal et la Mauritanie, des centaines de migrants "dans une situation de détresse": "Plusieurs semaines après le début de la campagne d'expulsions de migrants menée par les autorités mauritaniennes, des centaines de migrants se retrouvent bloqués à Rosso, ville transfrontalière entre la Mauritanie et le Sénégal. Un afflux qui rend la situation humanitaire difficile dans la région."

18.04.25 Infomigrants: "Il y a une vraie crainte de se faire contrôler" : En Mauritanie, les vagues d'arrestations de migrants sèment la peur: "Depuis presque deux mois, les arrestations de personnes en situation irrégulière sont quasi-quotidiennes en Mauritanie. Après un passage en détention, elles sont ensuite renvoyées aux frontières avec le Sénégal ou le Mali. Un climat qui sème la peur dans le pays où sont présents quelque 200 000 migrants."

11.04.25 Infomigrants: "Une tragédie humaine" : plus de 100 corps de migrants retrouvés au large de la Mauritanie depuis janvier: "En 2024, plus de 500 corps de jeunes Africains ont été repêchés sur nos côtes et plus de 100 depuis le début de cette année (2025). C'est une tragédie humaine que nous devons affronter ensemble."

09.04.25 rfi: Mauritanie: une nouvelle unité militaire formée par des soldats de République tchèque: "En Mauritanie, une nouvelle unité militaire est désormais formée par des soldats tchèques. Cette formation est inscrite dans le cadre de l'Otan, qui place aujourd’hui Nouakchott au cœur de sa stratégie sécuritaire dans la région du Sahel. Du côté de la République tchèque, il s'agit de la seule mission militaire au Sahel depuis le départ de ses soldats formateurs au Mali. Une mission saluée par le président tchèque, en visite sur place cette semaine."

Niger

24.04.24 AA: Le Niger lance un projet d'une raffinerie d'or: "L'annonce a été faite par le ministre nigérien des Mines, le commissaire-colonel Abarchi Ousmane, qui a signé un accord dans ce sens avec la société internationale Suvarna Royal Gold Trading. Le Niger dispose de plusieurs mines d'or, notamment dans la région d'Agadez (nord) près de la frontière algérienne et dans la région de Tillabéri (ouest) près de la frontière du Burkina Faso. Cependant, seule la mine de Samira, dans la région de Tillabéri, est exploitée de manière industrielle, les autres mines étant livrées à l'exploitation artisanale.
Depuis le coup d'Etat du 26 juillet 2023, le Niger s'est engagé dans une démarche visant à reprendre le contrôle total de ses ressources naturelles."

11.04.25 RFI: Niger: la population sous la pression des groupes armés dans le Tillabéry: "Au Niger, l'inquiétude remonte à Makalondi, une localité du Tillabéry, dans le département de Torodi, à une centaine de kilomètres au sud-ouest de Niamey, près de la frontière avec le Burkina Faso. Depuis plusieurs semaines, les habitants de Makalondi alertent sur des pressions de groupes armés. Et dans la nuit du 6 au 7 avril, un quartier de la commune a été le théâtre d'une attaque qui n'a pas fait de victimes, mais des dégâts matériels."

Senegal

10.04.25 LM: Au Sénégal, l’Espagne plaide pour une politique migratoire « ouverte et respectueuse des droits de l’homme »: "La ministre espagnole Elma Saiz s’est rendue à Dakar pour défendre la politique de ´migration circulaire` de son gouvernement. Un dispositif d’embauches de saisonniers agricole qui commence à susciter des frustrations côté sénégalais. Confronté à une poussée migratoire sans précédent – 57 700 personnes ont débarqué en Espagne en 2024, soit deux fois plus qu’en 2022, notamment via l’archipel des Canaries –, le gouvernement de Pedro Sanchez doit résoudre une équation délicate : contre les discours des partis de droite et d’extrême droite qui crient à ´l’invasion` tout en continuant d’attirer une main-d’œuvre immigrée bon marché dont l’économie du pays a besoin."

07.04.25 Guardian: ‘Barcelona or death’: mothers watch and wait as Senegal’s men risk all to reach Europe: "For many the perilous journey to Spain seems the only future. Can the country’s new government create enough jobs and prospects to make them stay? The newly elected president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has called on young people to stay in Senegal rather than seeking the ´illusion` of a better future elsewhere. “From now on, the relentless hunt for these illusion-peddlers, these peddlers of death, will be stepped up,” he said, announcing that a hotline to report the activities of people smugglers would be set up. But a year on from the excitement and hope around his taking office, there are few signs of change in the scale of the dangerous exodus."

Sub Saharan Africa

Cameroon

24.04.25 taz: Präsidentschaftswahlen in Kamerun: Biya stellt politische Gegner kalt: "In sechs Monaten will sich Kameruns Präsident Biya nach über 40 Jahren im Amt wiederwählen lassen. Alle ernsthaften Kontrahenten sind bereits gesperrt."

DRC

27.04.25 SZ: Ostkongo hofft auf Frieden, Donald Trump hofft auf Rohstoffe: "Die verfeindeten Nachbarstaaten Ruanda und Demokratische Republik Kongo, seit Jahren in einen komplexen Konflikt verwickelt, unterzeichneten am Freitag ein Abkommen. Es soll den Auftakt eines Friedensprozesses bilden und wurde von den USA vermittelt. Die Unterzeichnung fand in Washington im Beisein von US-Außenminister Marco Rubio statt."

16.04.25 taz: M23-Rebellen in Goma: Gekommen, um zu bleiben: "Im Osten der Demokratischen Republik Kongo soll ein Staat im Staat errichtet werden. Die erste Bank wurde wiedereröffnet."

Rwanda / Mozambique

23.04.25 ACLED: Rwanda in Mozambique: Limits to civilian protection: "In March 2025, a senior figure in Mozambique’s Local Force, a government-backed militia on the front line against Islamic State Mozambique (ISM), stated that Rwandan forces in northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province are now unwilling to engage with ISM militarily. The Local Force official’s allegation is a serious one, primarily for citizens in Cabo Delgado subject to ISM attacks. The allegation is also of wider importance. Rwanda has put military cooperation at the heart of its foreign policy on the continent."

West Asia

Israel / Palestine

25.04.25: UN says its food stocks in Gaza completely ‘depleted’ amid Israeli blockade: "In a statement on Friday [April 18], the WFP confirmed it had “delivered its last remaining food stocks” in Gaza to local kitchens, which it anticipates will run out of food entirely ´in the coming days`."

19.04.25 Guardian: Despair in Gaza as Israeli aid blockade creates crisis ‘unmatched in severity’: "The siege has left the Palestinian territory facing conditions unmatched in severity since the beginning of the war as residents grapple with sweeping new evacuation orders, the renewed bombing of civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, and the exhaustion of food, fuel for generators and medical supplies."

17.04.24 Der Spiegel:Uno meldet eine halbe Million Vertriebene im Gazastreifen: "Seit Wiederaufflammen des Gazakriegs sind rund 500.000 Palästinenser erneut auf der Flucht. Laut Uno fehlt es an Zelten, Nahrung und Medikamenten. Israel blockiert seit Wochen Hilfslieferungen in den Küstenstreifen."

16.04.25 AJE: Israel says its troops will remain in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely: "Defence minister says army ‘will remain in the security zones as a buffer between the enemy and [Israeli] communities’."

11.04.25 +972: The Israeli army is facing its biggest refusal crisis in decades: "Over 100,000 Israelis have reportedly stopped showing up for reserve duty. While their reasons differ, the scale demonstrates the war’s waning legitimacy."

07.04.25 FA: The Forever War in Gaza: "The Trump administration may have ceased talking about a plan to clear Gaza of its inhabitants, but right-wing Israeli politicians have taken up the cause, interpreting Trump’s proposal as a permission slip to more openly discuss encouraging Gazans to emigrate voluntarily. In practice, any such “voluntary emigration” project would involve the use of significant military force to persuade residents to leave."

04.04.25 Tagesspiegel: Israels Siedler im Westjordanland: „Eine solche Gewalt gegen die Palästinenser habe ich noch nie erlebt“: "Rekordzahl neuer illegaler Siedlungen, fast tägliche Angriffe auf Palästinenser und Vertreibungen: Im Westjordanland werden nach Ansicht des Rabbiners Arik Ascherman Fakten geschaffen."

Pakistan

14.04.25 AJE: Islamabad seeks answers after eight Pakistanis shot dead in Iran: "Pakistan has urged Iran to conduct a “comprehensive investigation” after eight Pakistani migrant workers were killed over the weekend in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province, which shares a border with Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province."

11.04.25 DW: Pakistan weist Tausende Afghanen aus: "Im Rahmen einer neuen Rückführungsinitiative hat Pakistan dem UN-Flüchtlingshilfswerk UNHCR zufolge innerhalb einer Woche über 8000 afghanische Staatsbürger ausgewiesen. Zuvor hatte die Regierung in Islamabad alle Staatsbürger Afghanistans ohne gültige Papiere aufgefordert, bis zum 31. März freiwillig in ihre Heimat zurückzukehren. Sollten sie dem nicht nachkommen, drohe ihnen die Abschiebung. Gleichzeitig kündigten die pakistanischen Behörden an, rund 800.000 von ihnen ausgestellte afghanische Staatsbürgerkarten für ungültig zu erklären. Zudem forderten sie die Inhaber der Karten auf, ebenfalls auszureisen."

Syria

17.04.25 NYT: U.S. Is Withdrawing Hundreds of Troops From Syria: "The military is shuttering three of its eight small operating bases in the country’s northeast, reducing troop levels to about 1,400 from 2,000, two senior U.S. officials said. The bases are Mission Support Site Green Village, M.S.S. Euphrates and a third much smaller facility."

See also New Lines Mag 08.04.25: In Syria’s Detention Camps, Fears Grow of an Islamic State Resurgence

Turkey Irak

09.04.25 taz: Im Nordirak setzen sich türkische Bodentruppen fest: "Das Vorrücken des Militärs ist Teil seiner Kampagne gegen die Hêzên Parastina Gel (HPG), den bewaffneten Arm der PKK. Die Region Bradost sei in Aufruhr. Schon zuvor sei die Türkei dort mit Luftangriffen aktiv gewesen. Das Neue sei nun aber die Präsenz von Bodentruppen und ein Auftreten der Türkei als Besatzungsmacht."

Europe

Germany

17.04.25 ecre: Germany’s dangerous shift to the right: The new coalition agreement is a blow to refugee protection: "Germany is facing a watershed moment in refugee policy. The negotiated coalition agreement between the conservative parties (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democrats (SPD) signals not only a dramatic tightening of asylum law but a dangerous departure from long-held human rights standards."

Also see D. Sp 11.04.25: Warum eine Migrationspolitik der Härte scheitern wird: "Immer lauter werden Forderungen, Menschenrechte zugunsten staatlicher Steuerung einzuschränken. Die Folgen dieser schonungslosen Politik bedrohen Demokratie und Rechtsstaatlichkeit, analysiert hier eine Gruppe namhafter Wissenschaftler."

16.04.25 taz: Abschiebungen nach Griechenland wieder möglich: "Flüchtlinge, die bereits in Griechenland anerkannt wurden, können künftig dorthin zurückgeschickt werden. Das entschied an diesem Mittwoch das Bundesverwaltungsgericht in einem Grundsatzurteil."

06.04.25 DW: Weniger Asylanträge in EU: Deutschland nicht mehr Hauptziel: "Erstmals seit Jahren ist Deutschland bei den Asylanträgen nicht mehr Spitzenreiter innerhalb der Europäischen Union. Das meldet die Zeitung "Welt am Sonntag" unter Berufung auf einen als vertraulich gekennzeichneten Bericht der EU-Kommission vom 2. April 2025. Aufgelistet sind darin Daten aus dem ersten Quartal des laufenden Jahres. Demnach steht laut "Report No. 460" der Asylagentur der Europäischen Union (EUAA) Frankreich jetzt an erster Stelle. Zwischen dem 1. Januar und dem 31. März sei dort 40.871 Mal Asyl beantragt worden. Auf Platz zwei folgt Spanien, wo 39.318 Ausländer Schutz suchten. Deutschland steht den Angaben zufolge jetzt nur noch an dritter Stelle."

Greece

07.04.25 AJE: MSF finds malnourished children in Greek migrant camp, urges action: "Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has reported the first cases of malnourished children in a migrant camp on the Greek island of Samos, raising fresh concerns over the facility’s conditions. The medical charity said on Monday that its doctors had diagnosed six children from Syria and Afghanistan, aged between six months and six years, with acute malnutrition requiring urgent care."

03.04.25 AJE: At least 16 killed as two refugee boats sink off Turkiye and Greece: "Authorities later recovered the bodies of seven people – three women, two boys, one girl and one man – after a search and rescue operation that included helicopters, vessels from the coastguard, and the FRONTEX European border agency. One of the survivors, identified only as a 20-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of being a people smuggler after other passengers allegedly identified him as having piloted the dinghy, the coastguard said."

Poland

15.04.25 Tgsp: Weil sie sieben Kindern Suppe gaben: Flüchtlingshelfern in Polen droht jahrelange Haft: "Im März 2022 versorgten sie mehrere Geflüchtete mit Nahrung und warmer Kleidung. Später wollten sie die Schutzsuchenden mit einem Auto in eine nahegelegene Stadt bringen. Dieser humanitäre Akt führte zu einer Anklage. Bei einer Verurteilung drohen den Aktivist:innen bis zu fünf Jahre Haft."

Spain

25.03.25 MMC: The impact of irregularity on migrants’ access to work in Spain: "This snapshot provides insights into the experiences of 300 migrants interviewed in Madrid and Barcelona, including 205 in irregular situations and 95 in regular situations."

European Union

29.04.25 Infomigrants: Les militants et les migrants font face à une hausse des criminalisations, selon un rapport: "L'ONG belge PICUM documente l'augmentation constante de la criminalisation des migrants et des personnes venant en aide aux exilés en Europe."

16.04.25 EU: Commission proposes to frontload elements of the Pact on Migration and Asylum as well as a first EU list of safe countries of origin: "The Commission is proposing to establish a first EU list covering Kosovo, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco and Tunisia."

Europol

09.04.25 EC: Europol signs a working arrangement with Egypt: "The process aims to promote political cooperation, combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling, and facilitate dialogue between countries. Commissioner Brunner also met with Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdelatty, to discuss migration management cooperation, including legal migration, talent partnerships, and counter-smuggling efforts. He also met the Minister of Interior, Mahmoud Tawfik, to exchange views on cooperation on return and readmission, counterterrorism, and cooperation with EU agencies."

Frontex

17.04.25 Il Post: Nel Mediterraneo ormai i migranti si respingono con i droni e gli aerei: "L'agenzia europea Frontex ha messo in piedi un sistema che taglia fuori le ong e permette alla Libia e alla Tunisia di intercettare più efficacemente i migranti. «La cosa che ho osservato negli ultimi anni è che il numero di velivoli è aumentato», racconta Sergio Scandura di Radio Radicale, il giornalista più esperto nel tracciamento di questi mezzi. In tutto ce ne sono circa una decina, alcuni dei quali volano ogni giorno decollando dalle coste e isole siciliane o da Malta. Nel piccolo aeroporto di Lampedusa usano la stessa pista di atterraggio dei voli turistici che atterrano da Palermo o Milano. Molti di questi aerei e droni sono operati da Frontex, l’agenzia europea della guardia di frontiera e costiera. Fanno parte del complesso sistema per respingere i migranti messo in piedi per aggirare le norme dell’Unione Europea secondo cui qualsiasi persona che mette piede in territorio europeo deve avere la possibilità di chiedere asilo."

11.04.25 Frontex: EU external borders: Irregular crossings fall by a third in Q1 2025: "This decline was observed across all major migratory routes into the EU, with drops ranging from 64% along the Western Balkan route to 8% along the Eastern Land Border."

See also Der Spiegel 03.04.25: »Ein Zaun allein ist noch keine Lösung«: Ein Interview mit dem neuen Leiter der Frontexagentur Hans Leijtens.

Reports and Long Reads

30.04.25 Civil CMRCC: Echoes Nr. 17 [report]

Among the content:

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

 Insights from Lampedusa (Maldusa)

 High Alert in Tunisia (Migration-control.info)

AMPLIFYING VOICES

 Drastic Outbreak of racist violence against Black People in Libya (Refugees in Libya and ARiL)

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Posted in All Entries, Monthly Reviews