Latest news with #irregular migration
The National
a day ago
- Politics
- The National
Africa-Yemen migration crisis requires new approach, IOM warns
An international security initiative is urgently needed in the Red Sea region to curb human trafficking, experts and officials said. The call for action comes after about 100 people died when a boat carrying about 150 migrants capsized off Yemen 's coast this month, drawing renewed attention to irregular migration. The civil war in Yemen since 2014 has not only created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises but has also brought migration to its shores, as migrants hope to cross and find work in neighbouring Gulf states. Migrants often sail from Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti and Sudan, where violence has driven thousands to flee, making the route from the Horn of Africa to Yemen one of the busiest and deadliest in the world. Last year, the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) recorded 446,000 movements along the Eastern Route, 10 per cent of which were by children. It is known that on the route, migrants are often subject to life-threatening conditions, including starvation and dehydration. Since January 2025, at least five boat capsizes have been reported in Yemeni waters, Abdusattor Esoev, the IOM Yemen chief of mission, told The National. In the past decade, at least 1,098 migrants drowned at sea off Yemen, while in 2025, 378 such deaths were recorded, including the latest incident. 'The migrant crisis in Yemen is a crisis within a crisis, in which migrants are exposed to various protection risks,' explained Mr Esoev. 'In 2024, more than 60,000 migrants have arrived on Yemen's shores,' he added. Crossing on foot The gateways for migrants in Yemen are mostly coastal entry points such as Ra's Al Arah and Al Madaribah in Lahj Governorate, Rudum in Shabwah and Mokha along the southern Red Sea. The migrants then gather in major cities such as Aden, Ataq, Rada'a, Al Bayda, Sanaa, Mukalla, and Marib, before eventually reaching Souq Al-Raqou and Souq Al-Thabet in Saada – two key gathering points before crossing into Saudi Arabia. It has been reported that they cross into Saudi Arabia on foot from Yemen, walking thousands of miles in the hope of finding work. 'In the absence of a principled, rights-based approach to migration management in Yemen, we are seeing the criminalisation of migrants, deportations, and detention in inhumane conditions,' warned the IOM official. In the past decade, the IOM recorded at least 2,169 migrant deaths both at sea and on land, while many more have likely gone unreported. 'The basis for resolving this issue requires co-operation between the coastal states of the Horn of Africa and Bab Al Mandeb and international organisations concerned with migration issues,' Mohammed Askar, Yemen's former human rights minister, told The National. 'There must be a clear strategy for addressing the conflict in Yemen and to protect migrants from abuse, violence and drowning, such as the disaster we recently witnessed,' said Mr Askar. In addition, necessary arrangements must be made for those who reach Yemeni territory, whether with the IOM or the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), he advised. Mr Askar said Yemen's internationally recognised government needs international support to take these initiatives as it cannot do so itself. For Yemen expert Abulghani Al Eryani, the short-term intervention would be to support the Yemen Coast Guard with equipment and training. The second step would be to establish and fund a repatriation mechanism, added Mr El Eyrani, who is also a consultant at the Sanaa Centre, an independent think tank. 'The long-term solution is to establish a multilateral security structure for the Red Sea Region that deals with smuggling, banditry and terrorism,' he explained. Training and awareness Proper training is also needed to equip Yemen's coastal guards to prevent such tragedies from happening, Baraa Al Shiban, Yemen expert at the RUSI think tank. The current security situation in Yemen makes it difficult for the authorities to properly respond to such tragedies and try to prevent future incidents from happening, Mr Al Shiban said. 'There is also a lack of awareness inside Yemen of the many tragedies that occur at the Yemeni coast due to conflating the migrants, the victims, with the smugglers, who profit from their smuggling operations,' he said. Saudi Arabia has implemented measures to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling, including a National Referral Mechanism (NRM) and increased border security since 2020. The NRM aims to identify and assist victims of trafficking, while enhanced border controls aim to deter irregular migration. Ahmed Nagi, Yemen senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, said the government must establish communication with authorities in the Horn of Africa to tackle the issue. Communication must be achieved in order 'to work with relevant states to raise awareness among potential migrants, especially in coastal areas, about the dangers of engaging with smuggling networks and relying on them to reach Yemen', he said. 'Secondly, to work jointly to combat this phenomenon and crack down on smugglers who show no regard for human life. '
Zawya
05-08-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Tunis and Rome: A partnership of opportunity in trade, energy and skills
Tunis - A few days after the visit of the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, to Tunisia, statements were issued regarding economic cooperation between the two countries for the first five months of the current year. These statements highlighted the existence of trade cooperation that benefits Tunisia. However, observers believe that, alongside this cooperation, both countries possessed negotiating power that enabled the discussion of many important issues, foremost among them irregular migration and the utilisation of energy surpluses. Not far from these relations heading toward development, through exchanges of visits at the highest levels, circles of finance and business, such as the Confederation of Tunisian Citizen Enterprises CONECT, believe that there is an opportunity to plan in order to benefit from the climate of understanding with the Italian side to push forward the wheel of investment, whether by attracting joint investments or exploring new prospects for multilateral cooperation. Trade and investment: fuel for traditional cooperation Trade between Tunisia and Italy in 2025 witnessed a notable improvement, with total exchanges reaching 10,452.3 million dinars. Tunisia's exports to Italy during the first half of this year amounted to 5,575.6 million dinars compared to imports of 4,876.8 million dinars. These figures made, according to Anis Basti, head of the Export Promotion Centre office in Milan (Italy), the Tunisian Italian trade balance positive in favour of Tunisia, as the coverage rate of exports over imports during the first five months of this year reached 115%. However, Tunisia's imports from Italy are not final or luxury products but essential raw materials, particularly for the industrial and agricultural sectors. These include petroleum products, fabrics, leather, and agricultural machinery, according to the representative of the Export House in Milan. Tunisia supplies the Italian market with mechanical and electrical industries (electric car cables, medical devices, electricity meters, and electrical equipment), accounting for 36.5%. Tunisian textiles reach the Italian market at a rate of 21.22%, in addition to a list of other diverse industries such as plastic products, hydrocarbons, medical machines, inorganic chemicals, glass and its products, furniture, and ceramics—at a rate of 19.1%. Italy, the land of fashion, continues to import leather and footwear from Tunisia at a rate of 11.3%, as well as food industries. Despite ranking among the top producers of olive oil, Italy imports significant quantities of olive oil, fish, shellfish, dates, dried tomatoes, and fresh vegetables from Tunisia at a rate of 11.7%. These important figures prompt the Export Promotion Centre in Milan to make greater efforts to develop trade exchanges between Tunisia and Italy and strengthen the presence of various Tunisian products in this market, according to Basti. The representatives work on identifying export opportunities available for Tunisian exporters and providing support, guidance, and proper coaching for exporting companies. This is done by supplying market-specific information about the Italian market, the materials it imports, organizing exploratory visits, participating in specialised exhibitions and trade fairs, and conducting evaluations and follow-ups based on market changes to keep economic actors informed and adaptable. According to Basti, the Italian authorities attach great importance to Tunisia at all levels, especially economically, by strengthening the economic partnership with Tunisia in particular and African countries in general, especially in the fields of energy, startups, artificial intelligence, and agriculture. Tunisian-Italian relations have developed into a strategic partnership, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia–Ukraine war, as Italy has started focusing more on Euro-Mediterranean partners rather than Asian ones. Basti sees the partnership between Tunisia and Italy as part of a sustainable cooperation dynamic that has been established over decades to support social and economic development in Tunisia. The private sector: All roads lead to Rome The Confederation of Tunisian Citizen Enterprises, CONECT, which represents a wide range of investors and businesspeople in Tunisia, considers, through its member Bilal Ben Hamida, that Italy remains a strategic partner for Tunisia. Businessmen affiliated with the confederation give great importance to the Italian market, both in terms of ongoing cooperation based on goods exchange and investment involving funding joint or multilateral projects, according to the CONECT representative. In its efforts to focus on the Italian market, CONECT is organising a mission of business owners to Italy to participate in the international fair in Rimini next October. As part of the Tunisia–Italy cooperation agenda, CONECT International is also planning to organise an investment forum in Tunisia in partnership with the Italian employers' organisation. The CONECT representative emphasised the importance of the Italian governmental visits to Tunisia, which reflect Italy's interest, noting that Italy is Tunisia's main supplier and second-largest exporter. The volume of bilateral trade between the two countries amounts to about €7.1 billion, according to data from the Italian Embassy in Tunis. Italy is also the second-largest foreign investor in Tunisia, with its investments accounting for 16% of foreign capital in the local market. Tunisia hosts around 1,000 Italian companies operating in various sectors, employing around 83,000 people. The national business environment and investment opportunities available for Italian investors have contributed to reinforcing this cooperation amid Tunisia's growing interest in attracting more Italian investment. Vocational training: A legal transit visa In an effort to curb irregular migration, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation signed, on June 21, 2025, a financing agreement worth €6.5 million to launch the 'Professional Tunisia – Promoting Employment in Tunisia through Dynamic Vocational Training' project. The project aims to strengthen youth employability in Tunisia, a recurring topic in negotiations between Tunisian and Italian officials, in an attempt to regulate labour migration legally and establish an effective approach to skilled migration. Funded entirely by the Italian government and running over three years, the project seeks to enhance the employability of Tunisian youth by modernising and revitalising the national vocational training system. It will focus on improving the quality of vocational training, making it more accessible and aligned with labour market demands, especially for youth and women. The project will also support the modernisation of training centres, introduce innovative pedagogical methods, and strengthen public-private partnerships. According to the Italian ambassador to Tunisia, the project reflects his government's commitment to supporting the vocational training sector in partnership with Tunisian authorities. He noted that this new initiative with UNIDO aligns with the "Mattei Plan for Africa," Tunisia Vision 2035, and national strategies in employment, youth socioeconomic inclusion, and economic development. It will open real and sustainable prospects for Tunisian youth, help form a qualified workforce, and expand opportunities for decent employment. ELMED: A regional project to harness energy surpluses Experts expect the Tunisia–Italy electricity interconnection project, ELMED, scheduled to enter into operation in 2028, to strengthen the stability of electricity supply in Tunisia. This will be achieved through energy transfer between Tunisia and Italy via a high-voltage 400-kilovolt submarine cable with a capacity of 600 megawatts and a length of 200 km, offering Tunisia a major opportunity to export renewable energy to Italy and Europe. It appears that the submarine cable for the ELMED electricity interconnection project between Tunisia and Italy was laid in July. Plans to draw loans are scheduled by the end of 2026 depending on the project's progress, according to data presented by the CEO of STEG, Faysal Tarifa, and his delegation during a hearing before the Finance and Budget Committee of the Assembly of People's Representatives at the end of June 2025. However, the project faces several challenges, including a lack of expertise, which necessitated recourse to foreign consultancy firms and caused some initial delays, in addition to land ownership issues. The officials noted that the project would contribute to developing electricity exchanges across the Mediterranean via a bidirectional 600 MW interconnection. It would also strengthen the stability of the Tunisian electrical system and complement the grid interconnection with Algeria, helping to cope with peak summer demand. ELMED will enhance energy cooperation across the Mediterranean, initiated in 1977 with the TRANSMED natural gas pipeline stretching 2,475 km from Algeria to Italy via Tunisia (370 km). According to the Italian electricity transmission company TERNA, the ELMED project will allow Italy to meet its electricity needs, which reached 31.3 billion kWh by the end of July 2024, a 4.5% increase compared to July 2023. This first direct electrical link between Europe and Africa, undertaken by STEG and its Italian counterpart TERNA, will secure electricity supply by reducing demand during summer peaks amid global warming and climate change, according to the National Chamber of Photovoltaic Energy under the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade, and Handicrafts. The ELMED project will also offer Tunisia the opportunity to export green energy to Europe. Experts, during a parallel event at the Rimini international exhibition, stressed the need to develop renewable energy on a large scale, modernise electric grids, and invest in storage solutions to ensure the world's access to reliable, secure, and affordable electricity. Tunisian and Italian stakeholders believe that laying the 600 MW high-voltage direct current submarine cable from the "Partanna" station in Sicily to the "El-Melaab" station in the industrial zone of Menzel Temime (Cap Bon), as part of the ELMED project, will boost the integration of European energy systems in North Africa, promote efficient energy use, and increase the operational flexibility of electric systems. Tunisian–Italian cooperation also includes major projects such as the 'Taranto Innovation Zone,' which aims to achieve energy sustainability between the two countries by launching a platform to foster innovation and interaction between universities, research centres, businesses, and startups. It will serve as a think tank to generate, develop, and test new ideas in the energy field. It will also contribute to developing innovative projects aligned with new technological trends in energy and strengthening a culture of innovation, in addition to making Italian expertise in submarine electricity transmission available to STEG technicians and engineers. Major projects also include 'TANIT,' which aims to modernise Tunisia's agricultural sector, improve water resource management, and boost innovation in the agri-food sector. These major projects, falling within Tunisian–Italian cooperation, represent a significant step in bilateral collaboration, reinforcing Italy's role as a strategic partner for Tunisia on its path toward a resilient and sustainable economy. © Tap 2025 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Sky News
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
UK sanctions dozens, including 'gangland bosses', in people-smuggling crackdown
The UK has sanctioned 25 people-smuggling bosses and enablers as part of a crackdown on irregular migration. Gang ring leaders, key smugglers, fake passport suppliers, underground banking operators and a company in China accused of advertising its small boats online for the purpose of people-smuggling have all been targeted. Earlier this week, the government announced new powers under the Sanctions Act to allow the UK to freeze the assets of anyone complicit in smuggling illegal migrants into the country. They can also be banned from travelling to the UK. Working with the National Crime Agency (NCA), the Foreign Office has now identified individuals and entities it says are involved in smuggling people over the Channel. 2:04 People smugglers and underground bankers Among those on the new sanctions list are seven Iraqi-linked individuals. Several are accused of helping smuggle migrants across the Channel in the back of lorries. The government said another runs safe houses for migrants in France before they attempt the crossing. Also sanctioned are three "hawala bankers", people who funnel cash through an underground payment system known as Hawala. 'Gangland bosses' and passport forgers Two North African gangs operating in the Balkans are also on the list, including the Kazawi gang, which controls people smuggling routes from North Africa into the EU and is known to deal out harsh punishments to migrants who are unable to pay. The other is the Tetwani gang, known as one of the Balkans' most violent people smuggling gangs, with members reported to hold migrants for ransom and sexually abuse women unable to pay their fees. Four gang bosses have also been designated, including the leaders of the Kazawi and Tetwani gangs, the Albanian head of a smuggling ring moving people from Belgium to the UK, and a former police translator who became the boss of a large network of corrupt policemen through violence and intimidation. Two organised crime groups in the Balkans that organise fake passports and forged documents, and six men from the gangs, have also been sanctioned. 0:27 The list ends with Weihai Yamar Outdoors Product Co, a Chinese company which has advertised small boats on an online marketplace as "refugee boats". They have since removed the reference from their website. 'Landmark moment' Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: "This is a landmark moment in the government's work to tackle organised immigration crime, reduce irregular migration to the UK, and deliver on the Plan for Change. "From Europe to Asia, we are taking the fight to the people-smugglers who enable irregular migration, targeting them wherever they are in the world and making them pay for their actions. "My message to the gangs who callously risk vulnerable lives for profit is this: we know who you are, and we will work with our partners around the world to hold you to account." NCA director general Graeme Biggar said the new sanctions powers will complement the work of his agency to "undermine and frustrate" the operational capability of a "wide range of organised immigration crime networks". The first half of 2025 saw a record number of small boat crossings, with almost 20,000 people making the dangerous journey from January to July - the highest ever in that period, and 48% more than the first half of 2024.
