Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

A recent study by a Danish-based think tank indicates a significant shift in public opinion, particularly among Germans, regarding government priorities. The study, commissioned by the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, highlights a growing emphasis on immigration control over climate change mitigation efforts. Since 2022, there has been a notable rise in the proportion of Europeans advocating for government action to reduce immigration, with Germany leading the trend. Conversely, concern about climate change has declined across the continent. The report underscores that reducing immigration has become a primary focus for many Europeans, surpassing climate change as a government priority. Notably, Germany…

Carola Rackete, known for her courageous actions as captain of the Sea-Watch 3 migrant rescue vessel in the Mediterranean, has announced her candidacy for the European Parliament elections with Germany’s Left (Die Linke) party. In an interview with ANSA, Rackete discusses her motivations and aspirations for entering European politics. Despite her prominent role in migrant rescue operations, Rackete emphasizes that her activism extends beyond migration issues. With a background in environmental studies, she aims to bring her expertise on climate change to the forefront of European policymaking. Rackete gained international attention in 2019 when she defied Italy’s then-interior minister Matteo…

In Monfalcone, Italy, a legal battle is underway over the right of Muslim migrants to pray inside two cultural centers. The city’s administration, led by right-wing League party mayor Anna Maria Cisint, has barred them from using these facilities, prompting protests and legal action. The Muslim community in Monfalcone, many of whom are Bangladeshi migrants attracted by shipyard work, has faced obstacles in practicing their faith. Denied access to the cultural centers, they have resorted to praying in a concrete parking lot. The dispute centers on zoning regulations and urban planning laws, with the city administration citing legal restrictions on…

In recent years, Hungary’s approach to asylum seekers has come under intense scrutiny, with accusations of violations of both international and EU law. Since the surge in migration in 2015, the Hungarian government has adopted increasingly restrictive policies, making it exceedingly difficult for individuals to seek asylum within its borders. Experts and rights groups have pointed out significant flaws in Hungary’s asylum system, particularly its lack of accessibility. The Hungarian Helsinki Committee, a prominent human rights organization, has documented a systematic erosion of legal safeguards and access to the asylum process since 2015. Aniko Bakonyi, a representative from the Hungarian…

The recent onslaught of heavy rainfall and flooding in East Africa, exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon, continues to wreak havoc, displacing thousands and posing grave challenges to communities in the region, according to a recent statement by the UN refugee agency, UNHCR. In Kenya, where the Dadaab refugee camps harbor over 380,000 refugees, nearly 20,000 individuals have been uprooted by rising water levels, compounding the plight of those who sought refuge from severe drought in neighboring Somalia in recent years. Similarly, in Burundi, approximately 32,000 refugees—nearly half of the country’s refugee population—are grappling with the aftermath of floods, with…

In Tunisia this week, a notable human rights activist found herself in police custody amidst growing accusations of migrant mistreatment in the North African nation. Saadia Mosbah, president of the Tunisian anti-racism association “Mnemty” (“My dream”), was apprehended on charges of money laundering, as reported by Tunisian media sources. Following her arrest, the Tunisian Human Rights League confirmed that Mosbah would be held in custody for a five-day investigative period. Mosbah, recognized for her advocacy work against racism, notably received the Global Anti-Racism Champions Award from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in August 2023. Mosbah’s detention coincided with emerging…

Italy’s recent decision to prohibit planes operated by charitable organizations from conducting surveillance flights over the central Mediterranean, particularly from airports on Sicily, Pantelleria, and Lampedusa islands, has sparked significant controversy and concern among humanitarian groups. According to reports from news agency Reuters, the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) unveiled this directive, which effectively impedes the ability of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Sea Watch to utilize aerial surveillance to locate and aid migrant boats in distress. Sea Watch, a prominent NGO involved in migrant search and rescue operations, promptly denounced the ban as politically motivated and legally dubious. In…

The recent €1 billion aid package from the European Union (EU) to Lebanon, aimed at assisting the country in managing its high refugee population from neighboring Syria, has sparked controversy and concern among experts. The deal, announced during a visit to Beirut by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides, includes funding to support Lebanon in caring for its predominantly Syrian refugee population, as well as for enhancing border and migration control. Lebanon, with a population of around 5.2 million, hosts an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees, making it one of the countries with the…

Libyan authorities have rescued at least 107 sub-Saharan migrants, including women and children, who were held captive in a compound in the town of Al Kufra in southeast Libya. The migrants, some of whom showed signs of torture and gunshot wounds, expressed their desire to seek refuge in Europe. The rescue operation was conducted by the Libyan Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which raided a hideout in downtown Kufra. According to spokesperson Walid Alorafi, the migrants, including women, children, and elderly individuals, were found in distressing conditions, highlighting the harrowing experiences faced by many migrants in Libya. The majority of the…

Inspired by Pope Francis’s compassionate vision, Spanish bishops are urging for the closure of migrant detention centers, advocating instead for legal pathways for migration and comprehensive laws facilitating migrant integration. In a pastoral address focused on migration, Spanish bishops have emphasized the need for new “legal and safe” migration routes, alongside laws enabling access to regularization, dignified employment, housing, healthcare, education, and cultural opportunities for migrants. Central to their message is the call for the closure of migrant detention facilities, aligning with Pope Francis’s assertion in ‘Fratelli Tutti’ (All Brothers) that migrants are not a problem but an opportunity for…