Political instability and conflict in key transit nations have reshaped the landscape of irregular migration, solidifying North Africa and the Sahel region as a critical global crossroads for human smuggling networks. Niger's policy reversal and the rise of clandestine networksFor decades, migration routes from West Africa have converged in Niger's city of Agadez before heading toward Libya. A 2016 law that criminalized migrant transportation with severe penalties was repealed by the new military administration in late 2023. Over 1.2 million refugees have fled to Chad, creating a large, vulnerable population that smuggling networks exploit to channel people toward Libya and the Mediterranean. In this intertwined ecosystem of conflict and crime, the most vulnerable pay the highest price.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 25, 2025 19:06 UTC