Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

A Sudanese asylum seeker has appeared before a Belfast court following a serious stabbing attack that left a local man with life-changing injuries and triggered days of unrest across Northern Ireland. Hadi Alodid, 30, appeared via video link at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. He was charged with attempted murder, making threats to kill, and possessing a knife following an incident in north Belfast on Monday night. The court heard allegations that the attack left the victim, Stephen Ogilvie, blind in one eye. Alodid did not enter a plea and declined legal representation during the hearing, which was conducted with…

The Greek parliament has approved new legislation that will allow the country to transfer failed asylum seekers to migrant return hubs located outside the European Union, marking another step in Europe’s efforts to tighten migration controls. The law follows the recent approval of an EU legal framework that permits member states to establish return hubs in third countries. While the European Union has provided the legal basis for the initiative, individual member states will be responsible for negotiating and operating the facilities. Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris said Greece aims to reach agreements with partner countries before the end of…

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has intensified efforts to combat irregular migration and migrant smuggling by deploying advanced technology and strengthening border surveillance across the country. According to the Service Public Relations Officer, Mr. Akinsola Akinlabi, the agency has recorded notable successes in detecting and preventing illegal movements through Nigeria’s land borders. Speaking in Abuja, he explained that enhanced surveillance operations and regular border patrols have helped immigration officers intercept many individuals attempting to enter or leave the country through unauthorized routes. Akinlabi said officers stationed along various border corridors frequently identify and stop irregular migrants before they complete their…

Two migrants have become the first individuals sentenced under the United Kingdom’s new legislation targeting people who pilot small boats across the English Channel and endanger the lives of others during irregular migration journeys. At Canterbury Crown Court on Wednesday, Sudanese national Alnour Mohamed Ali was sentenced to 27 months in prison after admitting to steering an overcrowded dinghy carrying 74 migrants across the Channel in April. Afghan national Mohammed Tajik received a two-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to piloting a small boat during poor weather conditions in January. Both men were convicted under the Border, Security, Asylum and…

The European Commission and the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) have released the European Drug Report 2026, revealing growing concerns over drug-related health risks, rising substance availability, and increasingly sophisticated trafficking networks across Europe. Presented on 9 June, the report draws on data from 29 countries, including all 27 EU Member States, Türkiye, and Norway. It provides a comprehensive overview of drug use trends, supply chains, drug-related harms, and national responses, supported by more than 100 graphics and interactive dashboards designed to track developments at both European and country levels. According to the report, opioids—often used in combination with other…

The upcoming visit of Pope Leo to Spain’s Canary Islands is expected to draw international attention to the treatment of migrants and the need for more humane migration policies across Europe. The visit, which begins on Thursday, will be the first by a pope to the Canary Islands, an archipelago that has become one of Europe’s main entry points for irregular migration from Africa. Local Catholic leaders believe the pope’s presence will help focus global attention on the challenges faced by migrants and the communities receiving them. During his trip, Pope Leo will visit the port of Arguineguin on Gran…

South Africa’s growing debate over migration and xenophobia has led to the return of several foreign nationals to their home countries, including Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Ghana. The latest group of Malawian migrants arrived home amid increasing concerns about the safety of foreign nationals living in South Africa. The development comes as South African authorities face pressure to address tensions linked to illegal migration and reports of hostility toward migrants. In a national address on Sunday, Cyril Ramaphosa announced a series of measures aimed at strengthening the country’s response to illegal migration. The South African president said the government would take…

Tunisia is expanding its voluntary repatriation programme for irregular migrants from sub-Saharan Africa as the country continues to face growing migration pressure along its coastal regions. Authorities say the policy is now their main approach to managing irregular migration and reducing dangerous attempts to cross the Mediterranean Sea toward Europe. Recent operations show that 210 migrants were moved on June 6 by National Guard units from Tunis, Nabeul, and Sousse to the Kilometre 21 transit camp in El Amra, located in the Sfax governorate. This latest transfer brought the weekly total to around 420 people, which is double the usual…

A leading migrant rights organisation in Greece has strongly criticized government plans that would allow unaccompanied migrant minors to be housed in detention-style facilities under a proposed overhaul of the country’s migration system. The Greek Council for Refugees Greek Council for Refugees warned that the draft law represents a serious setback for child protection standards, arguing that it would weaken safeguards for some of the most vulnerable groups in the migration system. Under the proposed legislation, unaccompanied minors who arrive in Greece could be placed in migrant detention camps rather than specialised child protection accommodation. The NGO says this would…

Britain is being urged to strengthen protections for migrant workers after concerns were raised over weak enforcement of labour rights, delayed tribunal processes, and widespread unpaid compensation awards. The call comes in response to a recent employment tribunal case involving an Indian migrant worker, Shabin Shaji, who was awarded nearly £30,000 after his UK employer failed to provide him with work. The case has drawn attention to broader structural weaknesses in how migrant labour rights are enforced. Commentators note that while such tribunal rulings are important, they represent only a small fraction of exploitation cases. Many migrant workers never pursue…