Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

The United Kingdom and several European countries have backed a new declaration calling for faster removal of illegal migrants and reduced court interference in deportation cases. The agreement was unveiled during a summit in Moldova and signed by the 46 member states of the Council of Europe, the body responsible for overseeing the European human rights system. The declaration urges the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg to give national governments greater authority when handling migration and deportation matters. European leaders argue that rising migration pressures and people-smuggling operations are testing the ability of countries to manage borders effectively.…

The government of Netherlands has announced fresh immigration reforms aimed at making the country more attractive to international professionals and their families. The updates, introduced by the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), focus on reducing paperwork and offering greater flexibility for highly skilled migrants. One of the major changes affects the MVV visa process. The MVV is a long-stay entry visa required by many foreign nationals moving to the Netherlands for work or residence purposes. Previously, applicants had to complete an additional MVV issuance form after receiving approval for their residence permit application. However, from March 2, 2026, the…

The government of Ghana has announced plans to evacuate about 300 of its citizens from South Africa following renewed anti-immigrant protests in several parts of the country. Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, confirmed that President John Dramani Mahama approved the emergency evacuation after many distressed Ghanaians registered with the country’s embassy in Pretoria seeking help and protection. The latest protests in South Africa have seen thousands of demonstrators calling for stricter immigration controls and the deportation of undocumented migrants. Protesters claim illegal immigration is affecting jobs, housing, healthcare, and security in the country. As tensions continue to grow, Ghana’s…

Authorities in eastern Libya say they have rescued about 120 migrants who were reportedly being held captive by human traffickers near the city of Benghazi. Officials also confirmed the recovery of three migrant bodies along the Mediterranean coast during the operation. According to the Ajdabiya Security Directorate, the rescue operation began after an Egyptian migrant escaped from captivity and was later found exhausted in the coastal town of Bishr, around 120 kilometers southwest of Ajdabiya. The migrant reportedly guided security officers to locations where other migrants were being held. Authorities said the migrants included Egyptians and people from several other…

The European Union is facing growing criticism after confirming plans to invite Taliban officials to Brussels for discussions on returning Afghan migrants from Europe. The move has sparked concern among human rights groups and some lawmakers who believe the talks could damage the EU’s commitment to democracy and human rights. According to reports, EU migration officials, working together with Sweden, sent a letter to Taliban authorities on Tuesday to arrange a meeting in the Belgian capital. The discussions are expected to focus on the return of Afghan migrants, especially people considered security threats or those with criminal convictions. The European…

Authorities in Malaysia are continuing search and rescue operations after a boat carrying Indonesian migrants capsized off the coast of Pangkor Island, leaving 14 people missing. According to maritime officials in Perak state, 23 Indonesians were rescued on Monday after the overcrowded boat sank in waters near Pangkor Island. Authorities believe a total of 37 people were on board at the time of the accident. Perak maritime chief Mohamad Shukri Khotob said a local fishing vessel discovered the survivors floating at sea before dawn and immediately alerted rescue teams. Search operations involving Malaysian maritime authorities began shortly after the distress…

Authorities in Croatia are searching for a suspected migrant smuggler believed to be connected to the deaths of four migrants near the country’s border with Slovenia. According to Croatian police, the suspect is a 22-year-old man from Montenegro who is currently on the run. Investigators believe the migrants were transported in extremely overcrowded conditions that may have caused the victims to suffocate. Police said the suspect could face charges linked to human trafficking and causing death if arrested. The offences reportedly carry a possible prison sentence of up to 15 years. Earlier this month, authorities discovered four migrant bodies and…

A new report from the Council of Europe has warned that recent immigration policies in the United Kingdom are increasing the vulnerability of migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees to human trafficking and exploitation. The 112-page evaluation report was published by the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, which monitors efforts to combat human trafficking across Europe. According to the report, referrals to the UK’s National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the system used to identify victims of trafficking, rose sharply from 12,687 cases in 2021 to more than 17,390 during the first nine months of 2025. The report…

An international human rights scholar has called on the Nigerian government and regional bodies to urgently respond to the growing wave of xenophobic violence targeting foreign nationals in South Africa. Uchenna Emelonye, a scholar at Bournemouth University and former United Nations Senior Human Rights Envoy, said the recent attacks against migrants represent serious violations of international human rights laws. In a statement, Emelonye warned that the violence against African migrants, especially Nigerians living in South Africa, should not be treated as isolated incidents. According to him, the attacks amount to systematic abuse of the rights of migrants legally residing in…

Greek authorities and rescue teams have rescued and intercepted hundreds of migrants near the islands of Crete and Gavdos over the last two days as the migration route from Libya toward southern Greece becomes increasingly active.According to reports from the Greek Coast Guard, several boats carrying migrants were discovered south of Crete and Gavdos during multiple rescue operations carried out over the weekend. Many of the migrants said they had departed from Tobruk in eastern Libya just one or two days earlier.A vessel operated by Frontex rescued 56 migrants southeast of Kaloi Limenes, while Greek rescue crews picked up another…