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...
SIHMA at the African Union Free Movement Protocol (FMP) Consultation Meeting
On August 1st-2nd, SIHMA took part in the Free Movement Protocol (FMP) Consultation Meeting, a conference organized by the African Union and fundend by the European Union about the implementation of the Free Movement Protocol, which was officially adopted by the community in 2018. The main discussions of the conference focused on the challenges and opportunities for the ratification and the implementation for FMP in the regions whose countries have already signed it, as well as the strategies to advance...
SIHMA at the "Conflict and Human Displacement" Conference of the University of Oslo
On Monday, October 28th, Fr. Filippo Ferraro, our director, presented a keynote address at the “Conflict and Human Displacement” conference organized by the Faculty of Theology at the University of Oslo. The event was part of the "Migration, Ethics, and Theology" webinar series, a collaboration between the Scalabrini International Migration Institute (SIMI) in Rome and scholars involved in the Nordhost project on migration and hospitality within a Nordic context. This webinar series builds on...
"We Made This!": a Video Documentary on the Journey and Difficulties of Children on the Move
We are proud to share with you the “We Made This!” video. The video was shown during the “The Need to Belong: Pathways Towards Durable Solutions” conference, which we held, together with the Scalabrini Center of Cape Town and the Commissioner for Children in the Western Cape, between the 25th and 27th September 2024.
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...
