Report Launch: Conflict, Coping and Covid: Changing human smuggling and trafficking dynamics in North Africa and the Sahel in 2019 and 2020

I'm delighted to provide my latest report for the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime: "Conflict, Coping and Covid: Changing human smuggling and trafficking dynamics in North Africa and the Sahel in 2019 and 2020."

Written in collaboration with Mark Micallef, Rupert Horsley, Alexandre Bish, Alice Fereday, and Peter Tinti, the report details human smuggling and trafficking trends (and broader organized crime, security and political issues around them) in Libya, Tunisia, Chad, Niger and Mali. It encapsulates the monthly reporting the GI has conducted on the subjects throughout 2019 and 2020 (and which remains ongoing).

The report can be found here: https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/smuggling-trafficking-sahel-2020/

Podcast: Tunisia: Political Unrest and the Illicit Economy

In a new podcast from the Global Initiative, I dig into why and how irregular migration from Tunisia has surged over the last 12 months, and forecast what we can expect in 2021.

Addition segments of the podcast feature Hiba Tlili, discussing Tunisia’s political crisis, and Dr. Dalia Ghanem discussing her work on women and smuggling on the Tunisia-Algeria border.

The podcast can be accessed here: Tunisia: Political Unrest and the Illicit Economy.

Better police-civilian relations can reduce irregular migration

My latest article for the Institute for Security Studies looks at why European policy makers should retool security sector assistance aid programs aimed at creating partner capability to bloc migrants, to security sector reform programs necessary for addressing underlying migration drivers. It is accessible here.

Compiled Articles and Reports on North African Irregular Migration

Between 2015 and 2019, 134,203 irregular migrants from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya were apprehended at sea or in littoral areas by EU nations, western Balkan states, Algeria, and Tunisia. 98,113 of the apprehensions took place in 2017 and 2019, underscoring the rapid escalation of the Maghrebi migration trend.

Over the last several years I've conducted several cross-regional research projects on North African irregular migration, looking at drivers and the routes and means used by the migrants to get to Europe. Another project is underway, with results to be released in January 2020.

In advance of that, this post offers some recent reports, articles, commentary, and media interviews I've done on the subject.

Reports, Commentary, and Graphics

“Maghrebi irregular migration is down but for how long?” ISS Today, Institute for Security Studies (November 2019).

“Morality should drive Europe’s new migration policies with Africa,” ISS Today, Institute for Security Studies (August 2019).

“Changing the migration horizon from North Africa to Europe,” ISS Today, Institute for Security Studies (August 2019).

“‘La Mal Vie’: The Routes, Drivers, and Politics of North African Irregular Migration,” Report, Institute for Security Studies (May 2019).

“Less than the sum of its parts: Europe’s fixation with Libyan border security,” Policy Brief, Institute for Security Studies (May 2019).

“Social media bridges North Africa’s divides to facilitate migration,” ISS Today, Institute for Security Studies. Co-authored with Amine Ghoulidi (March 2019).

“Algeria’s protests and migration: the fearmongers have it wrong,” ISS Today, Institute for Security Studies. Co-authored with Sofian Philip Naceur (March 2019).

“AU summit 32: Maghreb’s changing politics of migration,” ISS Today, Institute for Security Studies (February 2019).

"Tunisia isn’t a migrant transit country – yet," ISS Today, Institute for Security Studies. Co-authored with Max Gallien (August 2018).

“Irregular Migrants & Facilitators Intercepted by Tunisian MOI & MOD (June 2017 - June 2018),” La Línea, (June 12, 2018). 

“The Top Refugee Issues to Watch in 2018,” Refugees Deeply (January 12, 2018).

“Out of the Streets and Into the Boats: Tunisia’s Irregular Migration Surge,” MENASource, The Atlantic Council. Co-Authored with Max Gallien (November 2017).

“At the Edge: Trends and Routes of North African Clandestine Migrants,” Report, Institute for Security Studies and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (November 2016).

Interviews & Media Commentary

Naiara Galarraga Gortázar, “Italia también patrulla el Estrecho,” El Pais, 03 September 2018.

Agence Presse France, “Tunisie: arrestation de 50 candidats à l’émigration clandestine,” 11 February 2018.

Agenzia Nova, “Immigrazione: boom di nordafricani in Italia nel 2017, oltre 15 mila ingressi nel 2017,” 12 January 2018.

Sofian Philip Naceur, “Jagd auf Migranten,” Junge Welt, 10 October 2017.

Alan Clendenning and Vanessa Gera, “Rubber dinghies, old fishing boats feed Europe migrant rush,” Associated Press, 23 April 2015.