ILLEGAL ROUTE OF AFRICAN MIGRANTS TO EUROPE

Welcome back to my blog channel where I will be discussing on the illegal and dangerous route Africans take to reach Europe. This discussion is a warning to individuals planning to go to Europe to be wary of these routes and take the legal route to migrate.

Historically, international boundaries between Europe (Spain) and Morrocco, and by extension North Africa (Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya) as connecting countries have been the subject of intense political debate, especially regarding immigration policies, border security, and illegal activities such as drug trafficking and human trafficking. Several causes have contributed to the current increase in migration to Europe. Millions of people have been displaced by war in Syria and other Middle Eastern nations, and there has also been a sharp increase in migration from Africa due to political instability and economic disparities. The main entrance ports for migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea are Spain, Greece, and Italy, where most migrants and refugees arrive in Europe. Other countries such as Germany, France, and the UK also receive significant numbers of migrants and refugees.

The Moroccan borders with Spain specifically the island of Ceuta and Melilla are seen as points of interest for migrants seeking to enter Europe. It is understood that migrants take these journeys (dangerous and unpleasant) even from the western part of Africa through the rigors and dangerous pathway of the Sahara Desert through Libya before deciding to come all the way to Morocco or through to the canary island. The challenges these migrants face in terms of risks which include but are not limited to drowning at sea, physical injuries during border crossing. Also, the terrible role of human traffickers, who also charge these poor migrants outrageous fees, and the poor living conditions in the forest, which exposes vulnerable migrants—women and children in particular—to inhumane risks that may result in post-traumatic stress disorders for so many years ahead.

The psychological and emotional duties experienced by migrants like in the Morocco forests who encounter challenges such as loneliness, helplessness, and lack of opportunities as stated in the MOVIE BOLINGO. We watch how migrants show extreme stress and grief, and I must applaud the efforts of the Baraka Center as they provide suitable treatment and support, even from a mental health perspective, which works in conjunction with their assistance to help migrants forget their terrible travel experiences.

Desperate and impoverished Africans travel over the Sahara Desert from Niger to Libya; some of them drive at the rear of the truck through the heat and dust. When the migrants' truck breaks down, the migrants are stranded, abandoned with no water and most are left to die. These migrants claim they are unaware of the risks associated with driving. They claim to be enticed by social media, they saw job prospects and a promising future. The dream they saw is a scam. Male and female migrants are both victims of organ trafficking, and female migrants are coerced into prostitution. The Mediterranean route see a lot of migrants buried in the mass grave in the sea when boats capsize and men, women and children drown. Traveling via the Mediterranean and Sahara is a journey through deceit and death.

In conclusion, The EU can create a unified immigration policy that outlines the requirements for third-country nationals to enter and remain in the EU, including guidelines for family reunion, work permits, and visas. The goal of the integration policy is to assist refugees and migrants in integrating into their new communities and become contributing members of the community. Successful management of the migrant situation requires collaboration between national governments, international organizations, civil society, and host communities but this makes me question the role of the European Union and the African Union as there is absolutely no collaboration between them. This also will enable proactive responses in managing the situation of illegal migrant routes.

  

THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN AFRICA MIGRATION TO EUROPE

 

In Africa, the concept of migration is multifaceted, dynamic, and crosses various communities, tribes, and geographic areas. The need for a better career, to flee the insecurity that is currently ravaging the continent, to provide abundantly for both immediate and extended family, and to avoid ongoing poor governance are the main reasons why a growing number of Africans have been involved in voluntary migration in recent years. This diverse composition demonstrates the impact that social media has made since its launch 20 years ago, as a medium of interaction and source of information including its capacity to advocate for social change, raise awareness, and be an effective communication tool. Several theories have been put forward to explain the high rate of emigration outside of Africa, and one of those is the rise of social media awareness. Social media has had a positive correlation also played a negative role in shaping migration trends in Africa as it has the power to transform Africa migrant’s networks and facilitating migration.

 

The positive roles are as follows:

Social media is important for migrants' integration into host nations because it facilitates accessibility to information about the countries they will be living in even before they leave Africa, which has an impact on their settlement decisions. Social media platforms are frequently used to provide current information about employment openings, visa requirements, and to connect travelers with residents in their intended countries.

Promoting social networks: There is an increase in migration because of social media's ability to connect with friends and family around the globe. This has made it easier for many individuals to relocate in search of better job prospects, academic opportunities, and cultural interactions.

Providing job opportunities: Social media has made it possible for employers to engage with prospective employees and has generated new job opportunities. Additionally, students can now apply to and be accepted into universities overseas for example many Africa youths are migrating to the UK for educational purpose.

 

The negatives areas are:

Most young people who wish to travel to Europe do so because they are inspired by social media posts showcasing the lifestyles of their friends, family members, or fellow Africans living abroad. However, because of false information spread by social media, which is now seen as a place where young people's lives are interconnected with the story of mass emigration. Some individuals decide to go through illegal means, some lose their lives, some become slaves in other countries or go through dangerous treatments. Africa has become easy targets for abuse, extortion, and exploitation. It also encourages unauthorized migrant smuggling, cross-border human trafficking where social media could potentially play a role in the recruitment of trafficking victims that facilitates "trade and recruitment," making it easy to locate the routes, modes of transportation, and prices being negotiated on these social media platforms.

 In conclusion, to lessen the detrimental effects social media has on migration in Africa, it is imperative that social media platform owners, governments, and international organizations collaborate. This can be achieved by encouraging the dissemination of more accurate information, raising public knowledge of current issues and trends, and improving social and economic policies.

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF MIGRATION ON AFRICA

In my last post, the economic effect of migration on Europe economy was highlighted. In this post, I will be discussing on how migration has affected African economies in both positive and negative ways. These effects may vary based on a wide range of factors, such as the home nation's policies, the migrants’ skills, and the policy environment. Here are some ways that migration has affected the economy of Africa positively and negatively:

Remittances: Transfer of money flowing back to migrant families in Africa constitute one of migration's important benefits. Sending money back home have the potential to reduce poverty, boost the local economy, and pay for healthcare and education. In 2020, the World Bank estimated that remittances to Sub- Saharan Africa amounted to over $40 billion, amounting to a huge source of income. The women contribute as much as men in remittances. These remittances are largely used for productive investments rather than consumption. Also, for the Country, diasporas provide technology, knowledge, finance, and trade. Cash from abroad can be a wealthy source of income, boost a country credit worthiness and balance of payment statistics.

Human capital: By exporting human capital and giving people the chance to gain new experiences and skills, migration can also have a positive impact on the African economy. This can attract foreign direct investment, improve the standard of the labor force in the area, and develop new industries. Due to decrease in labour supply those who are unemployed are employed and there might be increase in salary for workers doing the job. Since there are fewer people to do the job those that are left can charge more to do the job.

Brain Drain: The migration of young, educated individuals to Europe may cause a "brain drain" for African    nations, leaving them short-staffed with trained workers. When educated individuals depart from their native nations in quest of more favorable circumstances. It impedes these countries' economic progress, prolonging poverty cycles and impeding development efforts. Africa is losing Scholars, Entrepreneurs, youths to migration every year. For example, in Nigeria large number of health care workers are leaving the country, this large migration from this highly needed sector is making things worse.

Remittances as a substitute for labour: In some household having a family living abroad and sending them money, they might have a tendency not to work because of the additional resources coming into the household. Some might reduce the number of hours they work or change the type of job they do. This change could be either positive or negative depending on the situation or context matters.

Child Labour: This could either increase or decrease depending on the circumstances. If members of the household leaves and are not able to send remittance home when needed or expected this could increase child labour as the younger ones will go out there and source for livelihood on the other hand, if a member of the household travels abroad and send remittances back home, the younger ones are left off work and concentrates on schooling.

When Africa migrants relocate from their home country to a foreign land, their desire to leave behind unpleasant factor often clouds their judgment, making it difficult for them to foresee the challenges of adjusting to a new environment. It is widely recognized that immigrants face many challenges upon arriving in a foreign country. These challenges include, but are not limited to, financial difficulties, difficulty integrating into the dominant culture of the new nation, and, most importantly, challenges finding a job quickly enough to support themselves.  

In conclusion, emigration in Africa has affected its economy both positively and negatively. The decrease in skilled emigrants has had a toil on some sectors and steps needs to be taken by the governments in Africa to influence favourable policies to reduce the number of migrants leaving for diaspora and encourage individuals to stay and those in diaspora to come home and build their country.