MAP story win the Best News Item 2018

EU-Migration
Migration: After the Balkan, the central Mediterranean route makes EU dizzy

Written by: Rahal Taoussi

Brussels - After drying up the migratory route of the Balkans thanks to the agreement with Turkey in March 2016, the 28 countries of the European Union have to deal with the rising central Mediterranean route, which gives a hard time to the European leaders.

Overwhelmed by incessant flows of migrants because of civil wars, particularly in Syria and Iraq, the EU and Turkey concluded on March 18, 2016, a comprehensive plan to reduce migration to the old continent. The agreement, which stipulated for each Syrian returned to Turkey from the Greek islands, another Syrian is resettled from Turkey to the EU, up to a maximum of 72,000 people, with financial counterparts for Ankara, has drastically reduced the arrivals of refugees.

At present, the 28 of the EU are working to dry up the flow of refugees and asylum seekers from the central Mediterranean, especially through Libya.

In preparation for the meeting of Heads of State or Government to be held in Malta tomorrow, the European Commission and EU High Representative Federica Mogherini presented a few days ago their contribution to the discussions on the how to "better manage migration and save lives" along the Central Mediterranean route.

The Commission and the High Representative have outlined a number of additional measures to strengthen the EU's efforts along this route, in particular with regard to Libya and its region.

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Rat extermination, a risky operation in Oran's Habibas Islands

Written by Ms Lamia Brahimi

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"... thirsty for a "rescuing" hand to come"

Written by Zina Tosku

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LUSA story win the Best News Item 2017

REPORT: Migrations: Nigerian leaves family, crosses Sahara with dream of becoming football star in Europe

Written by Fabiola Ortiz

Oujda, Morocco, Dec. 17 (Lusa) - Onoma Anigorigo, a 25-year-old citizen of Nigeria now living in Morocco after crossing the Sahara, is awaiting his chance to continue on to Europe to follow his dream of becoming a football star.

"I want to try to play in Switzerland, Germany or France," said Anigorigo, who three years ago left his wife and a seven-year-old daughter in Nigeria in search of a decent living to support his family. "I believe that I can get a job there too. I'm a hard-working man."

Starting out from Delta state in the south of Nigeria, he headed north into Niger and then Algeria, before walking across the border into Morocco one night before dawn.

So far he has played for small football clubs in Gambia and Morocco, but none paid him.

Anigorigo managed to cross the border between Algeria and Morocco despite its having been closed since 1994, when the government in Rabat imposed visa requirements for Algerians.

The border between the two countries runs for 1,600 kilometres, making it one of the longest closed borders in the world.