Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

Mauritania’s coast guard has rescued 110 migrants after their overcrowded boat suffered an engine failure while attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean toward Spain’s Canary Islands, highlighting the continued risks faced by migrants using one of the world’s deadliest migration routes. According to Mauritanian authorities, the rescue operation took place in the early hours of June 2 and lasted for approximately eight hours. Officials said the vessel encountered difficulties about eight nautical miles, or 15 kilometers, from the Mauritanian coast after experiencing a mechanical breakdown in challenging weather conditions. The migrants were found stranded at sea after reportedly departing from…

For thousands of migrant workers in Lebanon, the dangers of war extend far beyond airstrikes and armed conflict. Many are struggling to survive not only the renewed violence but also years of exploitation under the country’s controversial Kafala sponsorship system, which human rights groups have long criticized for enabling abuse and restricting workers’ freedom. As conflict continues to displace communities across Lebanon, migrant workers remain among the most vulnerable groups. While wealthier residents can relocate to safer areas and others may find refuge in emergency shelters, many migrants have nowhere to go. Caught between war, poverty, and an immigration system…

The Government of Ghana has advised its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to South Africa following a surge in anti-immigrant violence that has targeted African migrants in several parts of the country. In a statement issued by Ghana’s Foreign Ministry on Monday, authorities expressed concern over increasing attacks carried out by groups identifying themselves as anti-immigrant movements. The ministry said the incidents have resulted in injuries, looting, business disruptions, and significant property losses for foreign nationals living in South Africa. As a precautionary measure, Ghana urged its citizens to postpone non-essential trips to South Africa until the security situation improves.…

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has called on journalists across West and Central Africa to avoid sensational reporting and the misuse of migration-related terminology, warning that inaccurate media coverage can fuel xenophobia and contribute to harmful public policies targeting migrants. The warning was delivered by Ada Francis Xavier, Senior Media and Communications Officer at the IOM Regional Office in Dakar, during a media training session focused on improving migration reporting in the region. According to Xavier, the way migration issues are presented by the media plays a significant role in shaping public opinion and influencing policy decisions at local,…

The European Union has approved a major overhaul of its migration and asylum system, introducing a controversial plan to establish “return hubs” in countries outside the bloc. The agreement, reached after negotiations between the European Parliament and EU member states, is aimed at increasing the number of rejected asylum seekers who are removed from Europe. Under the new rules, migrants whose asylum applications have been denied may be transferred to facilities located in non-EU countries if authorities are unable to return them directly to their countries of origin. This could happen when a migrant’s home country refuses to accept them,…

China has announced new nationwide measures aimed at improving the welfare and protection of migrant children and left-behind children as part of broader efforts to build a more “child-friendly society.” The directive was issued by 27 central government departments, including the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Supreme People’s Court, and the Ministry of Education, ahead of International Children’s Day marked annually on June 1. Authorities said the policy is designed to improve tracking systems for vulnerable children and ensure they have equal access to public services such as education and healthcare, particularly in urban areas where many migrant families relocate…

The Nigerian government has called for calm and restraint amid growing concerns over anti-migrant protests in South Africa, warning citizens not to target South African nationals or businesses in retaliation for reports of hostility towards migrants. The warning was issued by the Nigeria Police Force following a meeting of security and intelligence officials to assess the situation involving Nigerians and other foreign nationals living in South Africa. Although no confirmed attacks specifically targeting Nigerians have been officially reported, tensions have risen in recent weeks as anti-migrant demonstrations spread across several South African communities. Protest groups have accused undocumented migrants of…

For many refugees who have spent years rebuilding their lives in Greece, a new government policy has created uncertainty about their future. Greek authorities have begun reopening asylum cases involving Syrians and Afghans, raising concerns among migrants who fear they could lose their legal protection and face pressure to return to countries they no longer consider safe. One of those affected is Bashir, a Syrian refugee who arrived in Greece in 2014 during the height of the Syrian civil war. After years of working in agriculture and learning new skills, he established himself as an independent metalworker. He married another…

An international court has ruled against Rwanda in its attempt to recover more than £100 million from the United Kingdom under the controversial migrant deportation agreement that was scrapped in 2024. Judges at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague ruled that Britain is not required to make two outstanding annual payments that Rwanda claimed were still owed under the agreement. The ruling marks another chapter in the collapse of a migration policy that sparked years of legal, political, and human rights debates in both countries. The agreement was signed in 2022 by former British Prime Minister Boris…

The government of the U.S. state of New Jersey has ordered state police to take control of security operations outside a migrant detention centre in Newark after days of escalating tensions between protesters and federal immigration officers. Governor Mikie Sherrill announced the decision on Friday, saying the move was necessary to reduce conflict and ensure both public safety and the right to peaceful protest outside the Delaney Hall detention facility. Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed immigration detention centre operated by GEO Group on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has become the centre of growing demonstrations over the treatment…