Madagascar and Djibouti Shipwrecks Highlight Migrants' Deadly Journeys on the East African Route
A series of tragic shipwrecks in 2024 highlights the perils faced by migrants on the East African Route, one of the world’s deadliest migration corridors. Recent incidents near Madagascar and Djibouti have claimed dozens of lives, underscoring the urgent need for international cooperation to address unsafe migration, human trafficking, and systemic issues driving these journeys. Efforts by organizations like the IOM aim to provide aid and protection, but challenges persist in ensuring safe pathways and addressing root causes. Shipwrecks...
The Impact of International Sanctions on Zimbabwe’s Migratory Regime
The movement of Zimbabweans beyond their country’s borders has captured international attention, becoming a poignant reminder of the broader socio-economic challenges the country faces. A closer look reveals that this phenomenon is not a matter of personal ambition for migrants, but rather a survival strategy catalyzed by external and internal pressures, most notably the economic sanctions imposed by the international community, the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union on Zimbabwe. The History and Effects of Sanctions...
Migration on the Rise: Examining the South Africa-Zimbabwe Corridor in 2024
In recent months, the South Africa-Zimbabwe migration corridor has seen a remarkable surge in movement. According to the latest data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in July 2024 the corridor recorded 32,309 movements, constituting 92% of all migration flows across Zimbabwe's official border points. The sharp rise in these figures underscores the persistent socio-economic challenges driving Zimbabweans across the Limpopo River into South Africa in search of better opportunities. The South Africa-Zimbabwe corridor is one of Africa’s busiest,...
Operation Vala Umgodi shows the ties between irregular migration and irregular mining, but should migrants be criminalized?
Operation Vala Umgodi exposes the connections between irregular migration and the coercion of migrants in South African mines. Launched earlier this year, it has led to the arrest of hundreds for the illegal extraction of minerals. Though initially aimed at curbing illegal mining, the operation has revealed deep ties between the extractive sector — especially the informal one — and the trafficking of migrants into South Africa. While effective in combating illegal mining, the treatment of...
Identity vs. Perception: the case of Chidimma Adetshina and South African opinion on migrants
The case of Chidimma Adetshina, who came under national scrutiny between August and September, sheds light on the levels of xenophobia and anti-immigration sentiment in South Africa. The 23-year-old model—born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and South African mother—was forced to withdraw from the "Miss South Africa" competition due to online abuse and the wave of hatred that followed her entry into the...
Insights and recommendations from the "The need to belong: pathways towards durable solutions" Conference
Between Wednesday, September 25, and Friday, September 27, we held the conference “The need to belong: pathways towards durable solutions”, focusing on the integration and documentation processes for young migrants and Children on the Move. The event highlighted the challenges related to social and school integration, as well as the acquisition of South African citizenship for unaccompanied minors.
