Police bust smuggling ring between Morocco and Spain
47 people were arrested in Gibraltar and Spain during the course of a police operation to break up a smuggling ring operating between Morocco, the British territory of Gibraltar and Spain.
Morocco
Typical Moroccan migrant is 'young married male': study
A study carried out by Morocco's statistical institution has revealed that the typical Moroccan migrant is a young married male.
Spanish NGOs accuse Spain of illegal migrant push-back
The Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras in a statement accused the Spanish authorities of illegally returning to Morocco 42 migrants who landed on the Spanish Chafarinas islands by boat on Friday.
Traffickers sentenced after Moroccan migrant's death
Nine people smugglers have been sentenced to up to ten years in prison, in connection to an incident in the western Mediterranean that led to the death of a young Moroccan migrant in 2018.
Frontex: Fluctuating trends for migrant arrivals to Europe
As 2019 draws to a close, the European border agency Frontex has released its latest reports about fluctuating trends across migrant arrivals to Europe. It found that arrivals were falling in the western and central Mediterranean and growing in the eastern Mediterranean as well as the Balkans.
At least 8 dead, dozens missing after migrant boat capsizes between Morocco and Spain
At least eight migrants are dead and another 24 are missing after a boat, thought to have been carrying between 90 and 100 migrants, capsized within sight of Spain’s southern coast just before dawn on December 16.
Dead and missing after attempt to cross from North Africa to Europe fails
The Spanish coastguard reported four migrants dead and 16 more missing on Wednesday, November 27, after an attempt to cross the Mediterranean from North Africa to Europe failed. The migrants were traveling on a small raft that sank near the Spanish enclave Melilla.
Van with 52 migrants rams Spanish enclave border
52 migrants in a van tried to forcefully cross the border separating the Spanish overseas enclave of Ceuta from Morocco. The autonomous Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla on Morocco's northern coast have the EU's only land borders with Africa.
Italy's new migrant decree promises repatriations in 4 months
The Italian government has presented a new asylum decree, which would see the waiting time for an asylum decision cut from two years to just four months, resulting in faster repatriations in applicable cases. Speaking at a press conference in Rome, Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said the decree would also update the list of countries considered safe for repatriations.
Yemeni athlete drowns trying to reach Europe
A medal-winning athlete from Yemen has drowned while trying to reach Spain in a small boat. Helal Ali Mohammed Al-Hajj was heading for the Spanish enclave of Melilla on the North African coast.
Bodies washed ashore in Morocco
At least 12 Moroccans have died after their boat was shipwrecked trying to reach Spain. Their bodies were found washed ashore on the Atlantic coast near Casablanca.
Migrating for football: The harsh reality behind the dream
A hard-hitting book, “Magic system: African footballers and the modern slave trade” tells the story of the newest type of human trade: that of African footballers who are ready to do anything in the hope of getting to Europe.