Human Smuggling in the Western Mediterranean: Mali and Morocco
A Talk by Tasnim Abderrahim and Flore Berger
About this Talk
This event is based on the most recently published reports in the series: Human smuggling and trafficking ecosystems – North Africa and the Sahel. The series has been published annually since 2019 and charts changing human smuggling and trafficking dynamics in Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Niger, Chad, Mali, Morocco and Sudan.
This year’s series follows the dynamics of human smuggling and trafficking from and through Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Niger, Chad, Mali, Morocco and Sudan in 2023. What has changed over the last 24 months? How have security challenges, political upheaval and local dynamics impacted the smuggling industry, and vice versa?
The first event of the publication series will present the main findings of Mali and Morocco research reports covering shifts in irregular migratory flows converging on the Western Mediterranean in 2023.
In 2023, Mali experienced profound shifts in its political and security landscape, significantly impacting migration routes through the north of the country. The withdrawal of MINUSMA and the subsequent outbreak of hostilities between the CSP and FAMa, as well as increased activities by violent extremist groups, disrupted traditional migration paths, making travel through northern Mali increasingly dangerous and costly. Despite these challenges, migrants continued to use Mali as a transit country and smuggling networks remain active, adapting to the volatile conditions.
Morocco continued to be a key departure point for both local and foreign migrants embarking on irregular sea crossings to Europe. In 2023, human smuggling trends in Morocco were broadly stable, although the dynamics differed across the three migratory routes linking the country to Spain. Various factors influenced irregular migration from and through Morocco during the year, including increased enforcement. However, despite these efforts, the allure of better economic opportunities for both Moroccan and foreign migrants continued to drive departures
