Since launching the migrant regularization campaign, Morocco has steadily become a “destination of choice” for several Sub-Saharan migrants, pushing them to give up the risky idea of joining Europe by sea, says the Irish Times. “Once merely a stepping stone for those desperately chasing their European dream, the North African country has now become the destination of choice for many migrants,” said the paper citing testimonies from several Sub-Saharan nationals working and living in Morocco. “The Moroccan government has implemented two legalization programs, in 2014 and again last year, encouraging sub-Saharans to apply for residency papers,” said the Irish times. The paper added that nearly 20,000 migrants applied as part of the second phase of the regularization campaign. In 2014, Morocco adopted a set of measures in favor of the aliens and launched a large-scale regularization operation that enabled some 25,000 migrants to get residence and work permits.

Source: The North Africa Journal April 07, 2017 15:45 UTC