The rise of anti-immigrant rhetoric continues to pollute contemporary politics both within and outside of the European Union. With this, the image of migrants from across the African continent crossing the Mediterranean in perilous circumstances becomes further entrenched in popular imagination. Whilst the consequences of a successful arrival to Europe are often interrogated in headline news — as well as the sometimes fatal outcomes of more treacherous journeys — it is easy to overlook the journey and the choices these individuals make in order to leave the continent.
“Many begin with Europe as their goal destination…”
North Africa, sitting across the Mediterranean from Southern Europe, often marks a turning point for people on a migratory journey. Many begin with Europe as their goal destination; this goal evolves according to the challenging realities and risks of trafficking routes through Africa towards the North of the continent. Morocco and Spain are separated at their closest point by 13 kilometres of seawater; people in intolerable circumstances continue to risk this crossing with alarming frequency. Yet writing off countries of departure as solely the transit countries of their migrant populations overlooks the impact of this global phenomenon on these territories.
More than a transit country
Trinity News sat down with an interviewee — who for their safety will remain anonymous and herein be referred to as Kris — at a migrant support foundation in Morocco. This organisation deals with newly arrived individuals as well as those applying for identity documents, like the coveted carte de séjour (residence permit). Morocco is a specific case: being an irregular migrant means living without legal rights to reside in the country, designating those without documents illegal in status. This makes life complicated for individuals like Kris, who came to Morocco at the age of 11 to join their father who abandoned them for France, leaving them without documentation in Morocco. Without contact with their father to apply for a family reunification process, and also being stranded without their birth certificate to prove their citizenship to their natal country, Kris falls into a bureaucratic loophole rendering their regularisation nearly impossible.
Yet Kris has since resided in Morocco for 10 years, helped by an unofficial mentor to integrate into the school system. Kris is currently volunteering at this migrant support foundation in Morocco having completed work experience there. They are also studying for the baccalaureate (university exam), but need to find a stable income to support their education, which has been difficult to find. The Moroccan informal work sector is vast — significantly greater than its formal sector — and much of its fabric is the country’s migrant population. But Kris is keen to find formal employment.
The aspiration to live in Europe and the consequences of aspirations to make a life in this continent were thrust on Kris. Yet they continue to make a meaningful contribution to Moroccan society, despite their personal challenges and their status of irregularity.
“…migrants often pay tax without receiving any social security or insurance in return, providing their host countries with net gains”
A report of the Conseil National des Droits de l’Homme (CDH) in September 2013 acknowledged the benefits migration has brought to Morocco: it is internationally acknowledged that migrants and immigrants often pay tax without receiving any social security or insurance in return, providing their host countries with net gains. The Moroccan government is starting to recognise this reality, launching two mass regularisation campaigns in 2014 and 2017 to reduce the risk posed to migrants in irregular situations. Yet the international image of North Africa’s role in migration journeys has been slower to evolve, with significant consequences on both its countries and their migrants.
Changing perspectives to change policy
International dialogues surrounding North Africa’s experience of migration overlook the region’s reality. Africa hosts a growing migrant community, which totalled 24.7 million — or 2% of its total population — in 2017. In the same year, the number of migrants in Morocco reached 101,200, or 0.3% of the country’s population. Between 2019 and 2022, the number of asylum seekers and refugees in the country almost doubled. The country is now recognised by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) as a host country — or pays d’accueil — as well as a transit country. Yet the popular opinion continues to be that migrants treat North Africa as a mere waiting room to access Europe.
Kris’ story arguably counters this narrative. Moreover, of the 24.7 million migrants counted across the continent in 2017, 80% remained over a year later. To dismiss the contribution of the region’s migrant community, as well as assume that the entirety of these migrants seek to reach Europe, is not only inaccurate, but impacts their safety and quality of life.
“The perception of North Africa as purely transitional in migration flows raises the level of risk…”
The perception of North Africa as purely transitional in migration flows raises the level of risk posed to its migrants, as well as those working with them. At a visit to Moroccan anti-racism organisation, GADEM, the head of programmes explained that the illegal status of irregular migrants means that charities and non-governmental organisations are often left by governing bodies to support individuals in difficulty, such as those injured in 2014 when 400 individuals attempted to access the Spanish enclave Ceuta. Police who see themselves as the gendarmes (paramilitary officers) of Europe often act under pressure from Europe to minimise the crossing of migrants. Due to their heightened use of force, as well as that of the Spanish police operating in the enclave, at least 15 people lost their lives during this 2014 incident which also threatened aid workers and journalists on the scene. GADEM describes the day-to-day xenophobia and racism migrants and particularly sub-saharan migrants face in Morocco — a product of the perceived threat of a community whose sole goal is assumed to be focused on reaching Europe.
If within Morocco, the situation for migrants is gradually improving with internal regularisation efforts, EU policy and global political dialogue perpetuate the image of the region and its migrants as above all, a threat. The consequences of this, as explored above, are often life-threatening. As conversations around migration are becoming increasingly inflamed, it is important to examine the tangible impact of migration, and to question the impact of our assumptions on the lives of the people involved.
