Migration Research Series: Irregular Migration from West Africa to the Maghreb and the European Union
Irregular Migration from West Africa to the Maghreb and the
European Union: An Overview of Recent Trends– There is no
evidence that irregular migration from West Africa to the Maghreb
and Europe is growing at an alarming rate, according to IOM's
latest Migration Research Series report, which seeks to dispel
several misconceptions on this issue.
Whilst over the past 15 years, there has been an undeniable
increase in regular and irregular migration of West Africans to the
Maghreb and Europe, the report states that trans-Saharan and
trans-Mediterranean migration from Africa to Europe is not as
massive as is commonly perceived.
With an estimated 800,000 registered West African migrants in
Europe's main receiving countries compared to 2.6 million North
Africans, the report emphasises the fact that migration from West
Africa to the EU remains relatively modest in comparison to
migration flows from North Africa and Eastern Europe. It notes, for
instance, that Moroccan immigrants outnumber all West African
migrants in Europe
The report estimates that tens of thousands of West African
migrants and not hundreds of thousands as regularly stated enter
the EU illegally every year. Whenever possible, they avoid risking
their lives on perilous sea journeys and use safer migration
methods, with a majority entering Europe legally and subsequently
overstaying their visas.
Furthermore, the report rejects the idea that most West African
migrants crossing the Sahara to reach North Africa are in transit
towards Europe. Available evidence suggests that less than a third
of the 65,000 to 120,000 sub-Saharan Africans entering the Maghreb
every year continue their northward journey.
According to the report, Libya remains an important destination
country in its own right, with other North African countries
hosting smaller but growing West and Central African
communities.
In addition, this study shows how state-led efforts to increase
and externalize border controls to North and West African countries
have led to increased violations of migrants' rights and to a huge
diversification of overland and maritime smuggling routes.
While it seems practically impossible to seal off the long
Saharan borders and Mediterranean coastlines, the report questions
the willingness of governments to do so as irregular migration is
often less unwanted than it seems as economies in Europe and the
Maghreb are in need of cheap, irregular labour.
The report concludes that without adequate legal channels to
better match the supply and demand for labour, substantial levels
of irregular migration from West Africa to the Maghreb and Europe
will persist.
The report is available online at:
For more information, please contact:
Hein de Haas
Tel: +44 (0) 1865 287306 or
+441865 287311
+31 6 272 14940/
E-mail:
"mailto:hein.dehaas@qeh.ox.ac.uk">hein.dehaas@qeh.ox.ac.uk