Person smuggling network caught in Western Sahara

Person smuggling network caught in Western Sahara

         The Moroccan police made 14 arrests related to a major smuggling ring in Western Sahara. The arrests were made after a shootout which occurred in the city of Dajla in southern Western Sahara. It was the result of a three month investigation to discover a major gang responsible for smuggling immigrants into the Canary Islands. The group’s leader, however, escaped by boat to Mauritius.
       

        The person smuggling industry to the Canary Islands has been a problem which has always plagued the islands. However, lately gangs have gotten involved in the industry and there has been a six-fold increase in the smuggling industry. Last year, over 30,000 immigrants were caught trying to illegally immigrate into the Canary Islands. The number of illegal immigrants arrested in a single weekend can reach 700.       

        The smuggling industry has thrived as gangs have preyed upon desperate people who are seeking to get into the European Union through Spain. It has caused the death of many immigrants en route, and threatened the lives of survivors through severe hypothermia and dehydration because of the poor traveling conditions. The passenger’s goal is to get a job and support their relatives at home, yet the gangs fleece the migrants.

           The gangs usually charge a very high rate for the migrants forcing the migrants to sell all that they own to gain passage on the ship. Following the initial payment, the gangs usually try to exhort more money from the passengers to guarantee better conditions on the boat or a better chance or immigration. Finally, when the passengers have traded everything they have they reach Spain and hope not to be arrested. If they are caught, they are repatriated back to their original countries, restart the process to procure the riches of Europe.

Typically Spanish. Moroccan police break up immigrant network in Western Sahara. 29 May 2007.

International Herald Tribune. Gangs profit from Smuggling of Illegal immigrants into Europe. 20 March 2007.

Africa Cast. Spain repatriates 750 migrants. 21 May 2007.

Niger’s Government Dissolves

By Meryl White
Impunity Watch, Africa

Niger is one of the five poorest countries in the world. It is situated in the southern region of the Sahara Desert. This arid nation has experienced a history of coups and elections since its independence from France in 1960. On Friday, June 1, 2007, Niger was once again without a government when Prime Minister Hama Amadou’s cabinet lost a no-confidence vote brought by parliamentary opposition. Sixty-two delegates in a 113-seat national assembly voted Amadou out of office. He was the leader of the ruling National Movement for a Society of Development (MNSD) since 1998.

The vote was prompted by a fraud case at the education ministry where two former ministers were involved in embezzling foreign funds that were intended for impoverished schools. Between 2002 and 2006, more than $9 million of European Union Aid was allegedly taken in the corrupt scandal.

While Amadou immediately resigned from his position on Friday, he was shocked that four groups allied to the MNSD voted against his government. He said, “After surviving four no-confidence votes, the government has fallen.” Moreover, he stated, “It’s a total surprise, given that the government has a big majority.”

President Tanja now has to pick a successor for the position of prime minister or dissolve parliament and call for new elections within 45 days. Opposition leader Mahamadou Issoufou said, “We would like him to make the right choice in order to give Niger a prime minister who will promote good governance and fight corruption and the embezzlement of public goods.”

For more information, please see:

BBC – Niger Vote Dissolves Government – 01 June 2007

International Herald Tribune – Niger’s Government Dissolves After No Confidence Vote – June 2007

Yahoo – Niger Government Falls After Losing Confidence Vote – June 2007