The “unprecedented humanitarian crisis” in Africa is partly linked to the restrictive migration policies of the European Union (EU), according to the statement by the Action for Human Rights and Friendship (ADHA).
Sub-Saharan Africa continues to lose thousands of young people to irregular migration, often to nowhere. As they try to reach Europe at all costs, they find themselves in difficult and dangerous conditions, sometimes “in Libyan, Algerian and Tunisian prisons”.
The statement stated that the organisation expressed deep concern at this alarming situation and informed the Senegalese authorities that “around 100 Senegalese are currently stranded in Niger”.
It added that Libya, Algeria, Tunisia and Niger are transit points for sub-Saharan migrants trying to reach the Spanish and Italian coasts in Europe.
“However, the deterioration of security conditions, restrictive migration policies under the complicit eye of certain EU countries and the lack of response and coordination on the part of the migrants’ countries of origin have led to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis,” the ADHA President said.
It notes that the number of migrants intercepted in Tunisia rose from 31,297 in 2022 to 69,963 in 2023, while “almost 9,000 black Africans” were expelled and “forcibly” transferred to the borders of Niger by Algerian security forces between early January and early April 2024.
In addition, thousands of migrants are stranded in overcrowded makeshift camps in Niger, exposed to abuse and inhumane living conditions, said the ADHA President, who has collected “testimonies from Senegalese migrants” that reveal systematic violations of their fundamental rights.
In view of these events, the humanitarian organisation is calling for an “immediate” end to these practices, which are contrary to international human rights conventions. In the same vein, ADHA, hopes that its “appeal will be heard”, and urges President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to send emissaries as soon as possible “to verify the number of Senegalese migrants detained in Libyan prisons, camps in the Niger desert and in Maghreb countries”.
ODL/ac/lb/GIK/PA