Illegal emigration and the African Youth

Journey of unknown destination

Many of African youths regard the ambition of travelling to the advanced countries through the illegal routes as a 'do or die' matter. Each of these journeys has always been accompanied by severe dangers that have increasingly sent many migrants to their early graves. Thousands of lives have been lost in the process as a result of boat capsizing at the sea or thirst and hunger on the desert


By ONAPAJO HAKEEM
from Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA


Undaunted by the harshness of the weather with a temperature as high as 50 degrees-centigrade and dust enveloping the air in the heart of the Sahara Desert, a Journeyman's spirit was high in his professional ambition to unearth the risk African youths subject themselves to, in their fatal adventure of migrating to Europe on a land trip via the Sahara. Packed on the back of a four-wheeler rickety vehicle with twelve men and a woman on board as passengers, they were fully turbaned and on winter jackets to pre-empt the oddness of the weather. The 750km journey that has adventurous youths from all parts of West-Africa began from Gao, 1, 200km away from the Malian capital, en-route the Algerian border to the Canary Islands, represents one of the tactics youths from the region embrace to fulfill their dogged ambition of travelling overseas to seek greener pastures.

Following the multi-dimensional crises that overwhelmed many African states spanning from political conflicts to economic collapses occasioned by inept leaderships, the youths from the region most especially in the West-African axis have taken to the option of migrating en-masse to highly industrialized countries as an alternative to the inflicting effects that accompany the situation. While some are patient and conscious enough to approach migration legally, others with extreme determination have resorted to illegal means to suit their inordinate ambition which mostly takes the form of exploring the illegal routes.

Available reports from the Canary Islands delegation provide that in 2006, over 31, 245 illegal migrants from West Africa reached the Spanish Canary Islands. While in Italy, in the same year, as reported by the OECD, over 22, 016 migrants from the region arrived in Italy by boat. While in 2007, 15, 000 immigrants were reported by the IOM to have reached the Canary Islands and another 12, 000 to Italy. Also in 2008, the UNCHR reported the arrival of over 36, 000 immigrants from the same region and through same route in Italy.

Dangers of Illegal Migration

Each of these journeys has always been accompanied by severe dangers that have increasingly sent many migrants to their early graves. Thousands of lives have been lost in the process as a result of boat capsizing at the sea or thirst and hunger on the desert. In March recently, over 500 deaths including women and children were reported by the IOM after a mishap involving two boats conveying migrants to Europe on the Mediterranean Sea. At almost the same period, another boat with about 350 migrants was rescued in the same area after another boat mishap. Also in November 2007, almost 50 migrants from West Africa lost their lives after their boat got stranded on the sea for 12 days. Joseph Winter of the BBC after conducting an in-depth investigation of the phenomenon in the region narrated the sordid experiences undergone by youth migrants. According to him, "several people told me about migrants dying after being abandoned in the mountainous border area between Morocco and Algeria with no food or water, and others drowning while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea."

A stranded boy of about eighteen years old after their vehicle pulled up in the desert told Journeyman in tears, "we can't even get water without paying, where can I work? I am really suffering here".

Despite the obvious perils of the venture and the number of deaths recorded on an annual basis, youths are unwavering in their ambition of embarking on such journeys. Many of them regard the ambition of travelling to the advanced countries through the illegal routes as a 'do or die' matter. A stranded youth with burning desire to sojourn in Europe told Journeyman at the Algerian border, "I will continue, I have to because of the family, its either Europe or death". Another in Mali that missed his chance of embarking on the journey said boldly, "for as long as I live, I will try again".

Preventive Measures

Upon realization of the evils of illegal migration, particularly of the youths, many measures were being instituted by government agencies, international organizations and private individuals to reverse the trend that undoubtedly has the capability of ruining the future of the continent.

At the international level, series of conferences were held between the EU and AU to collaborate on means at which the scourge of illegal migration could be tackled on the continent. Following the Rabat conference of July, 2006, a broader plan of action was adopted in Libya in November of the same year, which focused on how migration could be approached to translate into development in both regions. To tackle illegal migration, collaborative efforts were proposed on assisting African countries to build institutional measures against illegal migration. Also, the implementation of a joint AU-EU plan of action to combat human trafficking most especially women and children was agreed upon.

In the same light, Spain signed an agreement on training and recruitment programme with Senegal in March 2007. This aimed at recruiting workers from Senegal to work in the Spanish fishing and farming industries which enhanced the recruitment of about 500 Senegalese few months after operation. Also, the Libyan authorities on recognition of its borders as the major transit point of the migrants announced some security measures which include improved surveillance of its beaches and setting up of control points in the zones of illegal crossings.

Apart from the above governmental means, other efforts have been established by individuals and NGOs towards addressing the problem.

In Senegal, mothers of dead victims of cross-border migration numbering about 327 formed an association to appeal to youths in their immediate community to shun the idea of illegal migration. Also other international agencies like the Federal Office for Migration in collaboration with the EU and IOM engages in sensitization programmes on the continent to dissuade the young from embarking on the fatal journey of unknown destination.

While efforts are being advanced towards preventing the trend of illegal migration of youths in the region, there is need for governments within the region to re-assess their effectiveness in tackling poverty and illiteracy in their individual states which undoubtedly serve as major causes of the scourge amongst the African youths.


(Published: 20.08.2009.)