Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

Western Libyan security forces have announced that they killed a well-known migrant smuggler during an operation in the coastal city of Sabratha. The incident happened after criminal gangs linked to the smuggler attacked a security checkpoint overnight, forcing the forces to respond quickly. The security team said the attack was serious and threatened the safety of their officers, so they moved immediately to stop the group responsible. According to the Security Threats Combating Agency, the operation targeted the hideout of the gang leader, Ahmed Al-Dabbashi, who was better known as “Al-Amu.” He had been wanted for years due to his…

The UK is close to marking its longest stretch without any migrant boat crossings in seven years, as no small-boat arrivals have been recorded since November 14. According to new Home Office figures, this means there have now been 27 straight days without anyone reaching the British coast by crossing the English Channel. If this continues through December 12, the total will reach 28 days, making it the longest period without crossings since autumn 2018. December is usually one of the quietest months for Channel migration because the weather makes the journey very dangerous. Cold temperatures, poor visibility, strong winds…

Venezuela has announced that a planned repatriation flight carrying Venezuelan migrants from the United States has been suspended, adding more tension to an already strained relationship between the two countries. However, U.S. officials have firmly denied this claim, insisting that deportation flights to Venezuela are continuing as normal. According to a statement released late Thursday by Venezuela’s interior ministry, the government said it received notice from U.S. officials that the scheduled December 12 repatriation flight had been halted. The ministry described the move as a “unilateral” decision that disrupts months of coordinated efforts to return Venezuelan citizens from the United…

North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski has strongly dismissed media reports suggesting that his government agreed to host migrants rejected by the United Kingdom. Speaking on 9 December, he said the idea was never discussed with British officials and insisted that no migrant camp will ever be built in the country under his leadership. Mickoski stressed that fighting irregular migration is a key part of his party’s political agenda, the VMRO-DPMNE. He added, “There will not be even a tent for illegal migrants in North Macedonia while I am prime minister.” The opposition, however, believes the situation may be more…

Italy is taking new steps to solve its growing labour shortage by hiring migrants to fill important job gaps across the country. In the Emilia-Romagna region, local industrialists have started a programme aimed at connecting migrants with companies that urgently need workers. The initiative, called “If you flee, I will hire you,” began in September and is already active in Bologna and nearby areas. Organisers say that the first group of ten migrants is ready to start interviews and could be hired very soon. The project is led by Confindustria, Italy’s main business and employers’ association. The organisation says that…

Former migrant street vendors in Barcelona are now gaining legal work opportunities through a rising fashion brand called Top Manta. The brand, created by African migrants who once sold goods on the streets, is helping people step away from risky street vending and into real jobs in design, sewing and printing. In a bright studio in Barcelona, models are seen wearing clothes that were created by migrants who used to run from police while selling items on the sidewalks. The clothes are part of a 10-piece recycled fashion collection designed by local artist Tania Marcial and produced by the Top…

Former President Donald Trump’s new immigration approach is separating thousands of families inside the United States, creating a fresh wave of pain for migrants already living in the country. This new form of separation is different from what the world saw during Trump’s first term, when more than 5,000 children were taken from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border. At that time, images of crying toddlers being removed from their mothers led to global outrage. Now, with illegal border crossings at the lowest point in 70 years, the government is focusing heavily on mass deportations that are breaking apart families…

According to videos posted online on December 5, three British men travelled by ferry from England to northern France for what they called an “anti-migrant patrol.” The group was later spotted in several coastal locations. In Dunkirk, they confronted staff members of Doctors Without Borders (MSF), accusing them of helping what they described as an “invasion.” On a beach in Gravelines, an area where many small boats begin their dangerous attempts to cross the English Channel, the same men shouted insults at people they believed were humanitarian workers. Aid groups say such incidents have become more frequent and increasingly aggressive.…

A Somali migrant who was publicly honoured for bravery in Germany has now been asked by authorities to leave the country, sparking debate over immigration rules and recognition of civic courage. Ahmed Mohamed Odowaa, a 30-year-old Somali national, received a civil medal earlier this year after helping to stop a knife attack in the Bavarian town of Aschaffenburg. In January, an Afghan migrant attacked a group of children at a kindergarten park, killing a two-year-old child and a 41-year-old man. As the attacker fled, Odowaa chased him, prevented his escape and helped police make the arrest. In February, Odowaa received…

Italy’s plan to run migrant processing centres in Albania is still far from complete one year after it was announced by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Despite high expectations, the project has faced legal, political, and practical obstacles that have slowed progress and limited its impact. The Italy Albania migrant plan was designed to allow Italian authorities to process asylum requests outside the EU, with a target of handling up to 3,000 people each month. In total, the centres were expected to process as many as 36,000 migrants a year through fast-track asylum procedures. However, the scheme quickly ran into legal…