Why Tougher Laws Aren't Stopping Irregular Migration from Ethiopia
Every year, thousands of young Ethiopians go on a dangerous journey towards the Gulf states and Europe, often without proper documentation and through the hands of smugglers, and they are also often fully aware of the risks and dangers of the journey. The Ethiopian government has spent the past few years improving and implimenting their legal framework, So why does irregular migration keep increasing? A recent study by Getye Abneh and Fekadu...
The Eastern Route: Where Despair Crosses Borders and Hope Dies Quietly
Between 2019 and 2024, the borderlands between Yemen and Saudi Arabia became a stark landscape of peril for Ethiopian migrants navigating the Eastern Route. Along this path, individuals have faced violence, exploitation, and a lack of legal protection. While multiple testimonies and reports have surfaced, international accountability has proven elusive. A 2023 report by Human Rights Watch exposes the widespread use of explosive weapons, firearms, and other forms of abuse by border guards, allegations...
Lost in Transit: The Silent Victims of Human Smuggling in Ghana
Migration in Africa remains a deeply complex issue, often entangled with human smuggling and trafficking. Economic hardships, armed conflict, and natural disasters drive high migration rates, making Ghana a pivotal transit point for global smuggling operations. Vulnerable migrants, recruited through social media and personal referrals, frequently fall prey to exploitation and abuse. Organised Criminal Networks Criminal syndicates, such as the Transporters gang, charge migrants between $2,000 and $10,000 for...
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...
“The nexus of human trafficking, asylum seekers and refugees"
“Refugees at Risk: UNDOC uncovers human trafficking at camp in Malawi.” – UNDOC, May 2022. “IOM warns of increased risk of trafficking in persons for people fleeing Ukraine.” – IOM, March 2022. “Girls sold into forced labour. Largest group of trafficking victims identified by IOM in Bangladesh refugee camps” – IOM, October 2018. Human trafficking, or trafficking in persons refers to “recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or...
