Irregular Migration

New Chapter: The “Non-Maghreb” and Transnational Clandestine Flows from the Sahel Region

Delighted to be included in a great ISPI monograph: ‘The Cost of “Non-Maghreb”: Unpacking the Political and Economic Costs of Disunion and Divisions.’

My chapter, titled ‘The “Non-Maghreb” and Transnational Clandestine Flows from the Sahel Region,’ focuses on clandestine flows connecting the Sahel and Maghreb. It traces current dynamics around the smuggling of commodities, drugs and arms, and the movement of migrants, terrorists and mercenaries.

The chapter next turns to the structural factors which impede efforts by Maghrebi and Sahelien states to address these flows, including the structure of illicit markets, limited intra-state coordination, the growth of uncontrolled territories, and poor state relations with border communities.

The chapter ends with a brief set of policy recommendations. It can be accessed here.

New report: 'Tunisia - Growing Irregular Migration Flows Amid Worsening Political Fragility

I'm delighted to announce the publication of my new report, 'Tunisia - Growing Irregular Migration Flows Amid Worsening Political Fragility.’

The report looks at the evolution of human smuggling and trafficking in Tunisia in 2021, as well as assessing the political and economic dynamics with intensified during the year. It ends with a brief look ahead for the second half of 2022.

It can be access here: https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/human-smuggling-trafficking-ecosystems-north-africa-sahel/

Report Launch: Conflict, Coping and Covid: Changing human smuggling and trafficking dynamics in North Africa and the Sahel in 2019 and 2020

I'm delighted to provide my latest report for the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime: "Conflict, Coping and Covid: Changing human smuggling and trafficking dynamics in North Africa and the Sahel in 2019 and 2020."

Written in collaboration with Mark Micallef, Rupert Horsley, Alexandre Bish, Alice Fereday, and Peter Tinti, the report details human smuggling and trafficking trends (and broader organized crime, security and political issues around them) in Libya, Tunisia, Chad, Niger and Mali. It encapsulates the monthly reporting the GI has conducted on the subjects throughout 2019 and 2020 (and which remains ongoing).

The report can be found here: https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/smuggling-trafficking-sahel-2020/

Podcast: Tunisia: Political Unrest and the Illicit Economy

In a new podcast from the Global Initiative, I dig into why and how irregular migration from Tunisia has surged over the last 12 months, and forecast what we can expect in 2021.

Addition segments of the podcast feature Hiba Tlili, discussing Tunisia’s political crisis, and Dr. Dalia Ghanem discussing her work on women and smuggling on the Tunisia-Algeria border.

The podcast can be accessed here: Tunisia: Political Unrest and the Illicit Economy.