Intensive African news often remains outside the spotlight. A continent where borders are porous, hopes are high, and ignorance and indifference are stubborn companions. The migration stories of people reaching Spain, Ceuta, and Melilla enter official statistics kept by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Yet there are also those who perish along the way. Africa is home to the world’s second-largest population, a region rich in natural resources but battered by drought, climate change, and ongoing conflicts. These conditions repeatedly force people to leave their homes in search of safety.
The eight-month war in Sudan has displaced about five and a half million people within the country, with most concentrated in the capital, Khartoum, and in Darfur, according to the United Nations. About a million and a half have crossed borders seeking refuge in Chad, South Sudan, and nearby areas. The conflict began in April over negotiations for a transitional government and reforms in the armed forces, sparking clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. Since then, thousands have lost their lives and millions have faced upheaval.
Amnesty International and other international organizations have condemned numerous incidents on both sides as war crimes that may amount to generalized offenses. UN agencies have warned of an impending famine. In recent days, fighting has intensified in Wad Madani, Sudan’s second-largest city. It is described as an atmosphere of fear and panic, with thousands fleeing in a matter of days, notes Tigere, Amnesty International’s regional director in Chagutah. Wad Madani has served as a shelter for hundreds of thousands from day one and has been a key point for delivering humanitarian aid. [Amnesty International]
seek shelter
Although the fighting intensified in 2023, conflicts persist in the country, notably in Darfur and across the border with South Sudan. Many families have sought shelter in Chad, while hopeful routes lead younger people toward Niger in hopes of reaching Libya and then Europe. The journey is perilous and uncertain, and the death toll remains unknown; the Sahara has long been a graveyard and, for many, a mysterious void that hides the truth of those who disappear. International organizations estimate that deaths along these routes may be higher than those reported at sea, underscoring the harsh reality of migration.
European border policies have tightened external migration routes as several nations crack down on immigration, with laws risking jail time for transporting or housing migrants in some cases. Niger had proposed punitive measures, but the regime ultimately repealed those provisions after political shifts. The result is a volatile patchwork that drives people to take greater risks on the road north.
Across North Africa, living conditions for migrants have worsened. In Tunisia, state actions and rhetoric against sub-Saharan populations have intensified, with authorities deporting thousands to the Libyan desert, where water and food are scarce. Libya remains a central departure point for central Mediterranean boats, yet it is also a perilous landscape where criminal networks exploit migrants and sometimes traffick them into slavery. [UNHCR]
instability
Libya’s multiple governing groups control different regions, and sporadic elections have yet to deliver stable governance. Since the Arab Spring, the country has faced a cycle of instability fueled by international interests and regional power plays. This turbulence has echoed beyond Libya, unsettling neighboring states and shaping regional dynamics. In West Africa, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Guinea, and Gabon have seen coups, with military leaders pledging transitions while some Western forces withdraw. Mali’s regime, for instance, has invited Russian mercenaries to bolster the armed forces, raising tensions with rebel groups and displacing people near Bamako. The Tuareg zones have seen renewed clashes as security bases shift and militant activity grows. Islamic State and Al-Qaeda affiliates remain active on the continent. [HRW]
Climate pressures intensify displacement and fuel tensions between communities. A study by a leading environmental foundation projects markedly worse harvests for Sub-Saharan newborns, with North Africa facing even greater deficits. Climate migration is expected to leave a lasting impression on the continent, much as resource scarcity fuels social and political unrest. In Senegal, for example, competition over marine resources—exacerbated by overfishing by international fleets—has driven local populations to extreme measures, drawing criticism from NGOs and watch groups.