Monthly Press Review September 2024

OUT NOW: Our Monthly Press Review September 2024 covers topics such as Eurafrican migration control, migration, and displacement in African countries, and news on the European border regime. Please also find our update on the war in Sudan.

In case there is a news item, report, or campaign you would like to flag in next month’s review please write us via contact@migration-control.info or on Twitter @MigControl.

Also we are seasrching for materials on UAE and their entanglement with the RSF-Militia in Chad and Sudan. If you can contribute, plse send it to the contact-address.

All Africa

15.09.24 Guardian: The Guardian view on tackling FGM: as progress slows, efforts must be redoubled: Survivors and other campaigners have done admirable work, but efforts to eradicate the practice by the end of the decade are way off target

17.09.24 GFP: Landgrabbing: Deutsche Unternehmen sind weiterhin in erheblichem Umfang am globalen Landgrabbing beteiligt. Dies zeigt aktuell das Beispiel der deutschen Firma Amatheon Agri, die auf dem afrikanischen Kontinent im großen Stil Agrarflächen aufkauft. In Sambia hat das Unternehmen inzwischen 40.000 Hektar erworben – eine Fläche annähernd von der Größe des Bodensees. Um die Nutzung für den Anbau von cash crops oder auch für die Viehzucht zwecks Fleischproduktion zu ermöglichen, wurden zahllose Kleinbauern zwangsweise umgesiedelt und ihrer Lebensgrundlage beraubt.

28.08.24 NYT: Africa’s Debt Crisis Has ‘Catastrophic Implications’ for the World: Crushing obligations to foreign creditors that have few precedents have sapped numerous African nations of growth and stoked social instability.

06.09.24 Africa Report: Made by China: African currencies featuring Chinese footprints: As African leaders gather in Beijing for the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), China’s influence and presence in Africa continue to provide an option to the continent, especially in the areas of agriculture and infrastructure, manifested in bank notes of multiple African countries. This article is part of the dossier: Africa goes to China: FOCAC 2024

Also see Africa Report 05.09.24: FOCAC: Africa goes to China: taz 04.09.24: Präsident Xi in Afrika: Wetteifern um Chinas Gunst;

North Africa

Algeria

17.09.24 AJE: What challenges will Algerian President Tebboune face in his second term?: Constitutional Court revised those figures and established that Tebboune had been elected with 84.3 percent of the vote and that voter turnout actually sat at 46 percent. Aside from economic factors, the lack of civil liberties and a feeling of unease regarding the future are among the main reasons for the phenomenon.
To convince Algeria’s youth to stay, Tebboune’s government must enhance living conditions in a post-COVID-19 economic landscape characterised by high inflation, declining purchasing power and an unemployment rate of more than 10 percent, according to the International Monetary Fund.
His administration has continued subsidies on basic goods and introduced unemployment benefits for young people aged 19 to 40 in February 2022, with an initial monthly amount of 13,000 dinars ($98) that was raised to 15,000 dinars ($113) in January 2023.

Egypt

04.09.24 AJE: Egypt’s el-Sisi says Turkey visit paves way for ‘new phase’ in relations: El-Sisi met Erdogan in the Turkish capital on Wednesday, the first such presidential visit in 12 years, amid a warming of long-frozen relations between the regional powers.

Libya

02.09.24 Guardian: Notorious people smuggler shot dead in Libya, officials say: A UN security report (2017)accused Bija of being “directly involved in the sinking of migrant boats using firearms”. He was considered to be the leader of a criminal organisation operating in the Zawiya area in north-west Libya, about 28 miles west of Tripoli.

Tunisia

26.09.24 AJE: Tunisian presidential candidate Zammel sentenced to six months in prison: The ruling underscores mounting tensions before the vote, with opposition and civil society groups voicing concerns about a potentially rigged election designed to keep President Kais Saied in power.

21.09.24 AJE: Families of jailed Tunisians to urge ICC to probe migrant abuse: Report: Relatives of jailed Tunisian opposition figures plan to file a submission to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate alleged rights violations against migrants and refugees in the country, The Guardian newspaper reports.
The move planned for next week by the group, which previously petitioned The Hague-based court to probe alleged political persecution in Tunisia, comes amid new reports that Black migrants in Tunisia are suffering far-reaching abuse, including sexual violence, from security forces.

Also see AP 24.09.24: The ICC is asked to investigate a crackdown on opposition in Tunisia and claims of migrant abuse

Also see Report below (Long Read), and AJE 12.09.24: In Tunisia, refugees and migrants are expelled to the desert, left helpless

04.09.24 DAWN: Tunisia Appointed a Transitional Justice Czar, and Then Imprisoned Her: Bensedrine's arrest makes her the first non-Islamist to go to jail for their political views under all three of Tunisia's autocratic presidents

East Africa

Ethiopia

24.09.24 Africa Report: Ethiopia: Abiy’s ‘elite‑led’ transformation of Addis: Ethiopia’s PM Abiy Ahmed is on a quest to beautify the capital Addis Ababa, but will this urban development trickle down to all citizens?
(Role of UAE as investor)

Kenya

30.09.24 Africa Report: IMF reconsiders loan terms for Kenya as court blocks reforms: Kenya will face further delays in accessing new funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as negotiations resume over the fiscal implications of recent court rulings that invalidated the Privatisation Act, a critical component of the country’s 48-month loan programme.

13.09.24 Tagesschau: Migrationsabkommen mit Kenia unterzeichnet: Während des Besuchs des kenianischen Präsidenten William Ruto bei Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz unterzeichneten Bundesinnenministerin Nancy Faeser und Kenias Außenminister Musalia Mudavadi in Berlin das neue Abkommen. Es soll die Anwerbung von Fachkräften fördern und die Rückführung von Kenianern ohne Bleiberecht erleichtern.

Also see Africa Report 17.09.24: Kenya: Berlin contradicts Ruto on labour pact: Kenya and Germany last week signed ‘an ambitious’ labour migration deal that is set to offer jobs to both skilled and semi-skilled Kenyans to work and live in the European nation. However, President William Ruto’s version of the number of Kenyans to benefit from this project has been dismissed by the German authorities.

12,09.24 TNH: Dadaab Voices: Kenya’s flagship refugee plan marred by lack of consultation: ‘As refugees, we are just waiting for our death. And the reason for that is we don’t see a pathway for leaving this refugee life.’

Somalia

11.09.24 TNH: As Mogadishu’s skyline transforms, the urban poor call for economic inclusion: A construction boom is transforming the Mogadishu skyline. But as investors pump money into new apartment buildings and shopping centres, they're also widening inequality in a city where hundreds of thousands of displaced victims of war and drought struggle to survive.
(UAE as investor)

04.09.24 Africa Report: Somalia: Growing burden of taxes sparks mass protests: The government’s increasing tax demands have sent Somalis into the streets and provoked businesses to shut their doors in protest.

Sudan

30.09.24 AJE: Sudan military denies targeting UAE diplomatic post in Khartoum

26.09.24 NYT: Sudan’s Army Launches Operation to Retake Capital: The latest outbreak of fighting comes as nations gathered at the U.N. General Assembly called for an end to the war and for aid to be fast-tracked to millions in need.

Also see SWM 26.09.24: Sudan army seizes Khartoum bridgehead in surprise attack: The UAE earlier on Monday said the diplomatic post was attacked by a Sudanese military aircraft

25.09.24 SWP: Military outlook: What to expect from dry season fighting in Sudan: A three-month period of seasonal rains is coming to an end in Sudan, heralding the beginning of a potentially vicious new phase of the nation’s civil war.
The rains turned parts of the countryside to mud and flooded seasonal rivers (wadis), hampering off-road movement. This resulted in a lull in combat activity since July, except in urban areas. As the earth dries, the fighting is set to pick up.

21.09.24 NYT: How a U.S. Ally Uses Aid as a Cover in War The United Arab Emirates is expanding a covert campaign to back a winner in Sudan’s civil war. Waving the banner of the Red Crescent, it is also smuggling weapons and deploying drones.

Also see Gerjon Sept.2024: A new mystery airlift between the UAE and Africa: Update September 2023: The airlift is still going on. There are no more flights via Entebbe. Instead, flights go via Nairobi and Kigali. The 30 Sep 2023 update includes a new total of 109 flights. There have also been at least 59 Boeing 747 and Antonov An-124 flights from Abu Dhabi to Amdjarass.

Aso see AJE 23.09.24: Biden administration designates UAE ‘major defence partner’ in rare move: US-UAE boost military cooperation as Middle East tensions over war in Gaza surge and despite friction over Sudan war.The announcement on Monday, which came following a White House meeting between Biden and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, makes the UAE only the second country to receive the designation. The Biden administration gave India the designation in 2021.

21.09.24 SWM: Intense fighting in central El Fasher: The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have advanced into central areas of El Fasher, overrunning outer defenses of the Sudan Armed Forces and approaching the Grand Market and the 6th Infantry Division Headquarters.

17.09.24 SWM: RSF establish civil administration in West Kordofan: The new state leaders, acting under the RSF’s military authority, aim to address the administrative vacuum and collapse of services in West Kordofan caused by the overthrow of the military-controlled government.

12.09.24 SWM: Top Sudanese general vows military will hold power for 20 years after war: “The commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces will remain the head of state with sovereign powers even after the elections—not only during the transitional period, but also after the elections—for up to three or four election cycles.”“And I swear to God that the military establishment will examine Sudan again with a microscope and there will be no leniency.”

09.09.24 Guardian: Tens of thousands of artefacts looted from Sudan museum, says official: Thefts at Khartoum’s National Museum, one of most important in Africa, took place in region controlled by Rapid Support Forces group

03.09.24 AJE: Starvation crisis of ‘historic proportions’ in Sudan, aid groups warn: The international community is failing “to address the immense hunger”, the Norwegian Refugee Council, the Danish Refugee Council, and Mercy Corps said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

West Africa and Sahel

23.09.24 BBC: Russia in satellite deal with West African military governments: The technology will boost border surveillance and national security in all three countries, says Mali’s Finance Minister, Alousséni Sanou, adding that it would enable secure communications. Islamist insurgents roam across the three countries' long, porous borders in the vast semi-arid Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert.

18.09.24 Africa Report: Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger: Drone war in the Sahel, a risky strategy: Drone strikes carried out by the Malians in Tinzawaten serve as a reminder that these aircraft are now a critical part of the Sahelian armies’ arsenal against jihadists.
Turkey has been a key supplier of these drones to the Sahelian military regimes, with drones becoming a diplomatic tool under President Erdoğan, as noted by military historian Anthony Guyon. However, the increased use of drones raises concerns about deepening divisions between central governments and local populations, as well as shifting dependencies on new international arms suppliers like Turkey.

16.09.24 JA: Les passeports biométriques de l’AES, un pas de plus vers l’intégration économique ?: « Dans les jours qui viennent, un nouveau passeport biométrique de l’Alliance des États du Sahel (AES) sera mis en circulation, avec pour objectif d’harmoniser les titres de voyages dans notre espace commun », a annoncé Assimi Goïta lors d’une allocution télévisée dimanche. « Nous travaillerons pour mettre en place les infrastructures nécessaires afin de renforcer la connexion de nos territoires grâce aux transports, réseaux de communication et des technologies de l’information » a-t-il poursuivi.

15.09.24 NYT: ‘Water Is Coming.’ Floods Devastate West and Central Africa: Flooding caused by heavy rains has left more than 1,000 people dead and hundreds of thousands of homes destroyed.

15.09.24 AJE: Can the US find new partners in West Africa after Niger exit?: Washington is now seeking a Plan B after troops were ejected from sprawling, expensive bases in Niger.

06.09.24 Andalou: West African junta alliance moves to consolidate cooperation with China: An alliance of three junta-ruled Sahel states vowed Thursday to further strengthen cooperation with China as Beijing pledged more than $50 billion in financing for Africa over the next three years at a summit.

Atlantic Route

29.04.24 AJE: Hopes of finding 48 missing people fade after boat sinks off Canary Islands: At least nine people, including a child, have been confirmed dead and 27 rescued after a shipwreck off the Spanish coast. People on the boat were from Mali, Mauritania and Senegal, Spanish authorities said. They set out from Nouadhibou in Mauritania, some 800km (nearly 500 miles) away.

Burkina Faso

18.09.24 JA: Burkina Faso : menacés par les jihadistes, les habitants de Djibo appellent à l’aide: Déjà sous blocus jihadiste, la ville fait désormais face à un ultimatum. Depuis le 14 septembre, ses habitants ont fui massivement. Certains ont cherché protection auprès du camp militaire.

Also see HRW 18.09.24: Burkina Faso: Islamist Armed Groups Terrorize Civilians; Barrons 13.09.24: Burkina Victims' Groups Blame Junta Chief For Massacre

Ghana

30.09.24 Africa Report: Ghana: Public outrage mounts over police crackdown on protesters: Ghana’s capital, Accra, has been a flashpoint of tension as police detained 54 protesters for what they described as unlawful assembly.
Demonstrators in Accra who are part of the Democracy Hub advocacy group are protesting the government’s handling of illegal mining, or galamsey, which has wreaked environmental havoc across the West African country.
(Future political class turns against peasantry mining)

Mali

20.09.24 ABC News: Mali officials close livestock markets over suspected links to militants: Authorities in Mali’s capital announced Thursday after a deadly attack by al-Qaida-linked militants that they were closing several livestock markets that typically are run by Fulani, whom officials associate with the militants. Mali’s government perceives Fulanis as generally working with jihadis and believes that the JNIM has infiltrated the capital with their help.
There is a high risk of genocidal developments.

Also see 13.09.24 AJE: Do not ignore Mali’s multifaceted humanitarian catastrophe

19.09.24 NYT: Assault on Mali’s Capital Killed 50 or More, but Leaders Say Little: Days after the West African country’s ruling military was ambushed by Islamist rebels, it has sought to hide the true extent of the carnage.

Also see taz 25.09.24: Islamistische Spezialoperation erschüttert Mali

Mauritania

10.09.24 Saharamedias: Le ministre mauritanien de l’intérieur : « nous avons refoulé cette année plus de 10.000 migrants illégaux »: Le ministre a ajouté que la Mauritanie a organisé un recensement des migrants installés dans le pays pour régulariser leur situation juridique, tout en les exonérant du paiement de la taxe de résidence, ce qui a permis de dénombrer plus de 130.000 migrants dans la seule capitale Nouakchott, un nombre important qui reflète l’expansion effrayante de ce phénomène, a-t-il dit.
Il a fait remarquer que le projet de loi contenant des dispositions pénales relatives au système migratoire s’inscrit dans le cadre de la lutte contre ce phénomène, de la limitation de ses répercussions sécuritaires, sociales et économiques, et de sa pression sur les ressources locales, soulignant qu’il est urgent de combler le déficit de l’arsenal juridique relatif à la lutte contre la migration clandestine.

Also see Saharamedias 10.09.24: Mauritanie : création d’un tribunal chargé de la lutte contre l’esclavage et la traite des personnes

Mauritania / Gambia

28.08.24 rfi: Spain signs accords with Mauritania, Gambia to curb illegal migration: Spain has signed agreements with Mauritania and The Gambia to strengthen cooperation to combat people smuggling and promote legal migration, as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visits West Africa in the face of surging migrant arrivals.

Also see AP 28.08.24: Spain’s leader starts West Africa tour with agreements to combat people smuggling

Senegal

17.09.24 Reuters: Concerns mount over Senegal fiscal shortfalls ahead of election: Senegal's slower economic growth, its widening fiscal deficit and a potential delay in International Monetary Fund financing could cloud the outlook ahead of Nov. 17 parliamentary elections, analysts say.

13.09.24 AJE: Senegal’s Faye dissolves parliament and sets elections for November: Faye said working with the assembly had grown difficult after members refused to start discussions on the budget law and rejected efforts to dissolve wasteful state institutions.

13.08.24 BBC: Senegal newspapers go dark amid press freedom warnings: Concerns that the Mr Faye's government would try to restrict the media emerged a few months ago.

West Asia

Israel

16.09.24 Couririnternational: Israël recrute des demandeurs d’asile africains pour ses opérations à Gaza, selon “Ha’Aretz”: l’État hébreu aurait mis en place un système de recrutement de demandeurs d’asile afin qu’ils s’engagent dans le conflit à Gaza en échange de l’obtention d’un statut de résident permanent.

Lebanon

26.09.24 TNH: Lebanon’s migrant workers left stranded and homeless by Israeli attacks: Among the mass exodus of people trying to flee deadly Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon are migrant domestic workers from countries such as Kenya, the Philippines, and Ethiopia, some of whom feel trapped and unable to get to safety.
Many of Lebanon’s 176,000 migrant domestic workers are also women working in exploitative conditions for extremely low wages that make the cost of a ticket out of the country prohibitive. The majority come from Ethiopia, while others are from Bangladesh, the Philippines, Kenya and elsewhere.

Europe

Central Med

04.09.24 Sea Watch: Airborn Quarterly FactsheetApril-June 2024: This factsheet outlines a summary of the distress cases the Sea-Watch Airborne operations witnessed April to June 2024 by Airborne with Seabird 1 and Seabird 2.

04.09.24 AJE: At least 21 people missing after boat capsizes off Italian island: At least seven people rescued about 10 nautical miles (18.5km) southwest of Lampedusa after boat capsized in rough weather.

Germany

13.09.24 medico: "Wir überschreiten einen Kipppunkt": Fragen zur Debatte um Abschiebungen, Grenzkontrollen, Schnellverfahren an den Rechts- und Politikwissenschaftler Maximilian Pichl

Also see Guardian 13.09.24: Germany’s border clampdown threatens the entire European project: No wonder Viktor Orbán and Geert Wilders are cheering. Olaf Scholz is helping them to reshape the EU as they want it; taz 11.09.24: Ein gefährlicher Dominoeffekt ; Guardian 10.09.24: ‘The end of Schengen’: Germany’s new border controls put EU unity at risk; Amnesty et al. Sept. 2024: Flüchtlingsschutz ist Teil unserer demokratischen Werte -Forderungen nach Zurückweisungen ablehnen, Rechtsstaatlichkeit undMenschenrechte in Europa verteidigen; 10.09.24 Rat für Migration: Zurückweisungen an deutschen Grenzen: Eine brandgefährliche Strategie: Das aktuell verfolgte Politikziel, schutzsuchende Personen an den Grenzen Deutschlands zurückzuweisen, stellt einen gefährlichen Populismus in der migrationspolitischen Debatte dar. Aus der geltenden Gesetzeslage ergibt sich unzweifelhaft, dass eine Zurückweisung von schutzsuchenden Personen rechtswidrig ist. Sie verstößt gegen die EU-Asylverfahrensrichtlinie und Dublin-III-Verordnung sowie ggf. gegen die EU-Rückführungsrichtlinie; Bordermonitoring 09.09.24: Einführung von Grenzkontrollen an allen deutschen Landgrenzen

Seen This 04.09.23: German court ruling : Syria no longer unsafe, subsidiary protection not warranted: The Higher Administrative Court (OVG) in the city of Münster has ruled that a Syrian man does not qualify for subsidiary protection or asylum, stating that such protection only applies if lives are at risk in one’s home country, which by and large the court deemed no longer the case in Syria. The decision is now binding.

Zahlen Asyl, Einreisen, Rückweisungen: https://mediendienst-integration.de/migration/flucht-asyl/zahl-der-fluechtlinge.html#c4534

Hungary

17.09.24 Africa Report: Why Hungary is sending troops to Chad: “Chad is a key country in the fight against illegal migration in Africa. Migration from Africa to Europe cannot be stopped without the countries of the Sahel region. That is why Hungary is building a partnership with Chad,” said Orban.

Italy / UK

17.09.24 Guardian: Giorgia Meloni: Starmer showed great interest in our Albania migration deal: Keir Starmer has shown “great interest” in the Italy-Albania migration deal, the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has said, as the UK vowed to send £4m to support her controversial crackdown on irregular migration.
Speaking at a press conference in Rome, the prime minister agreed with Meloni, stressing the importance of the relationship betwen the UK and Italy.
He indicated, however, that he was more interested in Italy’s strategy for stopping migrants from reaching the country than its deal with Albania, which is a few weeks away from completion.

Also see Guardian 16.09.24: How has Italy sought to cut irregular migration and could UK copy the policy?; Altreconomia 25.09.24: Il ruolo dell’Unhcr nei centri in Albania, tra le “lettere” con il governo e le vittime di tratta

Portugal

10.09.24 La Voz de Galizia: Portugal inicia la regularización de más de 400.000 migrantes. ste lunes, en Lisboa, abrió sus puertas una nueva oficina de la Agencia para Integración, Migraciones y Asilo (AIMA) que será clave para la regularización de 400.000 inmigrantes que se encuentran en una situación irregular en Portugal. Un problema que se ha venido prorrogando debido a la lentitud administrativa.

UK / France

13.09.24 LMD: Gestrandet in Boulogne: Ob Labour, Tories oder rechte Randalierer: Die Briten wollen die Flüchtlingsboote über den Ärmelkanal stoppen. Für jene, die darin sitzen, bedeutet diese Abschottungspolitik eine Gefahr, die immer öfter tödlich endet.

03.09.24 NYT: At Least 12 Die Trying to Cross English Channel, French Officials Say: It was the deadliest episode in the waterway this year as the French and British governments struggle to prevent migrants from attempting the perilous crossing.
Crammed by smugglers onto a boat that was less than 25 feet long, more than 60 people fell into the water after their “extremely fragile” vessel started sinking

European Union

27.09.24 Tagesschau: Schwere Vorwürfe gegen Frontex: Anfang des Jahres war Frontex offenbar erneut in Pushbacks involviert - das haben Recherchen von NDR und WDR gezeigt. Jetzt stellen auch interne Untersuchungen schwere Fehler fest. Frontex-Direktor Leijtens steht unter Zugzwang.

25.09.24 taz: Milliarden ohne große Wirkung: 2016 legte die EU einen milliardenschweren Hilfefonds für Afrika auf. Rechnungsprüfer bemängeln nun die Wirklosigkeit der Gelder.
Der Fonds läuft 2025 aus. Bis dahin werden rund 5 Milliarden Euro über das Instrument ausgegeben worden sein. Es handelt sich im Wesentlichen um umgewidmete EU-Gelder für die Entwicklungszusammenarbeit, die unter der Prämisse der Migrationskontrolle in neue Projekte flossen.

Also see La Libre 25.09.24: Le fonds "migration" de l'Europe pour l'Afrique finance des projets à tâtons et porte trop peu d'attention au respect des droits humains

19.09.24 SZ: EU-Asylpolitik: Die Show von Wilders und Orbán: Die Niederlande und Ungarn wollen beantragen, aus dem Asylsystem der Europäischen Union auszusteigen. Der Hintergrund für die Wortmeldungen aus Budapest und Den Haag sind offensichtlich die deutschen Debatten. Sowohl Viktor Orbán als auch Geert Wilders hatten sich zustimmend geäußert zu dem Kurswechsel in der Berliner Flüchtlingspolitik.

18.09.24 taz: Mehr „Schlepperei“-Urteile in EU: Wenn Solidarität bestraft wird: Immer mehr Geflüchtete und Hel­fe­r:in­nen werden wegen „Schlepperei“ unverhältnismäßig hart bestraft. Damit vergrößern die Staaten die Probleme.

13.09.24 Guardian: EU fears for its human rights credibility as Tunisia crushes dissent, leak shows: Document detailing ‘deterioration’ under Kais Saied will fuel concerns about bloc’s migration deal with his country

Reports and Long Reads

16.09.24 Altreconomia: Locked in. From above. The confinement camps of migrants in 21st century Europe: What do the confinement camps built or financed by EU countries in recent years to segregate asylum seekers and/or migrants in transit look like, and how have they disrupted the territories in which they have been set up? Thanks to the book “Chiusi dentro” (Locked in) edited by RiVolti ai Balcani network and published by Altreconomia in 2024, comes the digital project “Locked in. From above”, which with exclusive satellite images taken by PlaceMarks shows the face of European policies: to block, to reject, to confine, to condemn to marginalisation.

DRC

25.09.24 DW: Ostkongo: Zwischen Hunger im Lager und Gefahr in den Dörfern: Viele Menschen in den Konfliktgebieten im Osten der DR Kongo wissen nicht wohin: In ihren Dörfern wird weiter gekämpft. In den überfüllten Flüchtlingslagern mangelt es an Nahrung

Gambia

13.09.24 AJE: ‘I will die trying’: Gambian migrant deportees dream of return to Europe: People who took the ‘backway’ to EU countries and were sent home find few opportunities.

Germany

13.09.24 SWP: Potentiale bilateraler Migrationsabkommen. Von Symbolpolitik zu praktischer Umsetzung: Während die öffentliche Debatte von stark restriktiven Vorschlägen wie der Auslagerung von Asylverfahren in Drittstaaten oder gar der Abschaffung des individuellen Rechts auf Asyl beherrscht wird, verfolgt der 2023 neu bestellte Sonderbevollmäch­tigte der Bundesregierung für Migrationsabkommen (im Folgenden kurz: Sonderbevollmächtigter) einen umfassenden Ansatz: Bei der Aushandlung der im Koalitions­vertrag angekündigten praxistauglichen und partnerschaftlichen Vereinbarungen mit Herkunftsländern sollen Anwerbe- und Rückführungsinteressen Deutschlands gleichermaßen berücksichtigt werden.

Guinea

06.08.24 Africa Center: A Stagnant Transition in Guinea: The military regime is increasingly resorting to repression to hold onto power. The junta has banned public protests—yet when Guinean citizens and civil society groups protest anyway, they are violently suppressed. Amnesty International estimates that at least 47 people have been killed by security forces during protests against the junta between June 2022 and March 2024.

Italy

18.09.24 ARD: Melonis Mattei-Plan – Italiens neuer Ansatz für die Afrika-Politik [Podcast]: Italiens Ministerpräsidentin Giorgia Meloni will die Migration über das Mittelmeer eindämmen. Dabei soll der „Mattei-Plan für Afrika“ helfen, der die Zusammenarbeit mit und die Wirtschaft in Afrika stärken soll - in der Theorie.

04.09.34 AJE: An Indian fixer lured workers to Italy. They say he used threats, violence: From 2012 to August 2022, hundreds of Indian citizens paid up to 20,000 euros each to Tara Chand Tanwar, an Indian citizen from Sujangarh, Rajasthan, to take up jobs in Italy, where they were subjected to exploitative working and living conditions

Mali

08.08.24 The Conversation: Mali is still unsafe under the military: why it hasn’t made progress against rebels and terrorists: We argue that in spite of the populist rhetoric by Malian military government and some recent success, there are at least three reasons for the continuing insecurity.

Poland / Belarus

16.09.24 medico: Kalter Krieg gegen Flüchtlinge: Belarus setzt Schutzsuchende als Druckmittel gegen die EU ein. Auch der neuen polnischen Regierung fällt nur deren Bekämpfung ein.

Also see Tagesschau 30.09.24: Polen und die Ostgrenze der EU: „Die Migrationspolitik hat sich unter Tusk weiter verschärft“

Tunisia

20.09.24 RiL: The human cost of migration across Libya & Tunisia, a crisis ignored: Exclusive interview with David Yambio: According to the migrants living in this makeshift camps, more than 80,000 migrants are stranded in these camps known as (Kilometers) from km19 - km38, and about 1,500 stranded at the Libya-Tunisia borders daily and about 2,000 more to the Algerian border with many facing dire conditions, including a lack of food, water, and medical care. At least 300 have died this year after being dumped in desert or due to medical negligence in the makeshift camps.

19.09.24 Guardian: The brutal truth behind Italy’s migrant reduction: beatings and rape by EU-funded forces in Tunisia: Keir Starmer says he wants to learn from Italy’s ‘dramatic’ statistics. But a Guardian investigation reveals that EU money goes to officers who are involved in shocking abuse, leaving people to die in the desert and colluding with smugglers

Also see Guardian 20.09.24: Europe has questions to answer over migrant abuse in Tunisia, say MEPs and activists: EU Commission says it will be sending independent observers to the country to investigate allegations of human rights violations

Sept. 2024 OMCT: “Routes of Torture - Tunisia vol n°2”: The report which highlights the scale and nature of human rights violations committed in Tunisia between November 2023 and April 2024 against migrants, refugees and asylum seekers residing and/or transiting in Tunisia.

Turkey

04.09.24 Untold Mag: EU funds, Turkish xenophobia: How foreigners are mistreated in detention centers: A testimony from a detention center in Turkey reveals how the EU's outsourcing of border control results in severe detainee mistreatment, with overcrowding and abuse amid rising xenophobia.

UK

23.09.24 Calais Border Monitoring: Grenzsicherheit mit Antiterror-Methoden: Artikel über die Schaffung des Border Security Command, die Fokussierung auf Kriminalität, die geplante Anwendung von Antiterror-Methoden und die Bemühungen um europäische Partnerschaften - wobei auch die Kooperation mit Deutschland im Rahmen der "Calais Group" reaktiviert wird.

06.09.24 AJE: Indonesian fruit-pickers say seasonal work in UK left them drowning in debt: Migrant workers say they were fired within weeks of arriving at UK farm after failing to meet impossible targets.

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).