Key Routes
Human trafficking is a key global topic and is addressed in various human rights and migration charters. The Global Compact for Migration addresses this under the 10th recommendation, Prevent and combat trafficking in persons in the context of international migration. It is a concern to nearly all major world powers, especially the European Union member states and the United States of America. It is estimated to gross one hundred and fifty billion dollars yearly and is expected to grow further. (Niethammer, 2022).
BBC Eye Africa (BBC, 2021) highlights the challenges that force many to move from Africa and seek better lives in Asia or Europe. The protagonist of the documentary highlights drought, unemployment, lack of knowledge of regular pathways, and unemployment as a few of the major factors that force many to migrate. Routes are dangerous and filled with challenges such as the propensity of being robbed and killed, walking in fatigue, or being arrested and repatriated. Smuggling cartels, with international outreach, are also active in the migration routes.
Various key routes are in existence all across Africa and are controlled by different traditional and modern cartels. They include; the northern route (central Mediterranean route), which has two alternative routes. The first; Djibouti-Ethiopia-Sudan-Libya, then Italy. Second, Libya-Tunis-Madrid. Sinai route, which has three routes, the first Somali-Ethiopia-Sudan-Egypt-Asia. Second; Somali-Ethiopia- Djibouti-Sanaa. The last; is South Sudan-Khartoum-Port Sudan-Asia. The Eastern Route covers Somali-Yemen-Saudi Arabia as well as Ethiopia-Djibouti-Yemen-Saudi Arabia (Marchand, 2017).
The northern African and East African routes are the most common and controversial, with a focus on unorthodox counter-insurgency. As we will see, a large number of immigrants are due to conflict in central and eastern Africa. Currently we have war in South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan. Thus, we have a large number of refugees compared to other regions. There exists the southern route through Nairobi- Dar Salam- Lusaka- Harare-Johannesburg. The western route through Nigeria-Nigeria-Algeria and Nigeria-Niger-Libya. Insurgents in Mozambique threaten an exodus through the southern route.
Past Counter insurgencies
Various world powers have undertaken steps to counter the mass exodus of individuals to their homelands on various continents through the human trafficking routes. One African country has stood out as a transit and gateway through the northern route, Sudan. Sudanese cities have been used as a resting point for smuggled refugees or normal citizens. Smugglers through Sudan link with Libya, which is currently engulfed in a civil war like Sudan. Unlike Sudan, the state has a strong grip, and the uprisings are in isolated pockets in the country like Darfur.
The European Union, in a bid to secure the West, decided to undertake a covert operation to secure the northern and western smuggling routes. (Archive, 2019) implicates the Rapid Security Forces of Sudan of being utilized by Europe as guardians of the Sahel and northern route. Basically, they were utilized to detain immigrants unwillingly and torture them against the human rights principles and safe and orderly detention of immigrants. In an embarrassing proclamation, the head of the unit asked for millions of dollars from the west and was subsequently paid.
In the western route, Tuareg rebels and other militias were paid to prevent migrants from overflowing into Europe. Despite the attempts all proved to be unreliable, other strategies have been local development projects in collaboration with various state governments. The International Monetary Fund, European Union, and international organizations such as Oxfam are leading the international counter-insurgency against human trafficking and smuggling. The African tale of corruption, bad leadership, and conflict disrupt local development and at times leads to further desperation.
In collaboration, United Nations and Interpol have led a counter-insurgency by arresting smugglers, but their attempts have been reduced by factors such as conflict. A good example of this is the western migration route, which passes through Niger which has pockets of the country under militias. The smugglers find an easy route through their turfs. Militias and authorities are corrupt and go with the highest bidder or still collect a smuggling toll. All in all, human resilience and desperation are stronger than all weapons.
The Future of Counter Insurgency
In the words of General Douglas, ‘Disaster is Inevitable.’ Thus, we must brace ourselves for future conflicts or insurgencies, as well as new agents of misery like Boko Haram and ISIL in West Africa. The state and the international community, while combatting terrorists or seeking peace, must accept refugees through a multilateral framework. Neighboring countries should be consulted and made regional allies. Each country must be allotted refugees in a fair, timely, and considerate manner for the sake of the welfare of the population. Upon peace or defeat of an insurgency, repatriation must be done for development.
The human trafficking routes must be strictly monitored. Refugees must be channeled to alternative destinations instead of being concentrated in one country. Organizations such as the International Organization for Migration must have staff in towns along the migratory routes. Education of regular pathways must be emphasized and imparted amongst the migrants, especially the vulnerable. Avoiding deaths and countering the smuggling culture must use alternative means rather than guns.
Countries of origins must undertake viable projects as well as educate on the value of the local economy. For an African from a disadvantaged war-ravaged background, Europe sure sounds like paradise rather than resettling. Thus, I must be able to value my land and see its potential rather than risk my life on an irregular pathway to Europe. Scholarships, work opportunities, and local processing of asylum requests shall encourage regular pathways. Campaigning is of key importance to encourage regular pathways and save victims.
The Rapid Support Forces and militia experiment is a violation of human rights. Local law enforcement should be strengthened to collaborate with international partners such as Interpol and the European Union for the effective arrest of smugglers. Take the example of the northern route; international special forces can easily capture smugglers on the route and monitor them, and evidence can lead to a cartel’s arrest. Modern equipment and surveillance teams are key to saving lives and prosecuting the one hundred and fifty million members in this vile industry. The game starts from the origin before the destination.
Benedict Kuol is a GRDFT Global Compact Migration graduate as well as a Strathmore University Finance major. He is a passionate writer and researcher with a vision to be the best GRDFT Research Intern.