Illegal migration from Africa to EU on the rise - 12 Jul 08

Leaders from Europe, Africa and the Middle East will meet in Paris this weekend to launch the Mediterranean Union.

The new body aims to strengthen ties between Europe and its southern neighbours.

Many of those migrating to North Africa and Europe come from West and Central Africa.

Their pursuit of a better life takes them on a dangerous journey north across the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea.

They leave their home countries and travel to transit countries such as Mauritania, Mali and Niger.

There, they begin their journey across desert borders to North Africa and then on to Europe.

Al Jazeera's Casey Kauffman traveled to the northeast of Mali and met up with a group of migrants on the first leg of their journey across the Sahara.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• casey
• kauffman
• al
• jazeera
• english
• mali
• migrants
• africa
• europe
• middle
• east

[clarkkent51]

I hear many of you Africans always praising your land. If your precious countries are that great, then why do you flee to Europe seeking crumbs off your former colonial master's table? You can't forever blame the European for past atrocities; you must began to see the real problem, whic h is your corrupt and incompetent govts.

[cool70200]

The power of poverty. It pushes people like nothing else.

[artigkc]

@clarkkent51 I realize this can't and won't be resolved via youtube conversation, but I do feel it's worth saying that while Africa is rich with resources it takes capital to produce finished products and sell them. In general, the only way that has happened is when Western companies or NGOs step in. And even when it has it has only led to sparse development, not an overall improvement. Thanks for your suggestion. I have one for you as well: "Global Shadows" by James Ferguson.

[clarkkent51]

@artigkc It's been two yrs, i see. Okay, you make a valid point on the condition Sub-Sahara Africa was left in. But, she is rich the resources,and with good governance, it can reach and surpass Europe, which is now on the verge of economc collapse. Chickens are roosting.

Read Wangari Maathai's book, "The Challenge for Africa."

She contends that, instead of selling the resources, make the finished product from the resources and sell it on the open market to get the maximun return.

[artigkc]

@clarkkent51

Such an attitude ignores the state in which Europe left much of the Sub Saharan African countries. No economic stability, real industry, or legitimate infrastructure. Instead what they left was a legacy of domination and subjugation. How many centuries of violence and corruption did it take before Europe emerged with the first semblances of a democratic system of governance? And we expect African states to find it from within a global economy that largely excludes them?

[zakfoot4]

@MrChickybee1 peace will be also upon u if u dont insult other religions or prophets...if that would be possible

[zakfoot4]

@MrChickybee1 yeah but why r u saying that i'm racist??? i'm not against black, white, jews ,asian???? i have black friends , white friends ,asian friends , jewish friends???so how can u call me a racist?? Israel is a nation not a "race"...and I'M AGAINST ISRAEL!

[zakfoot4]

@MrChickybee1 ta gueule tu sais meme pa parler francais et moi je sais parler suedois alors ta gueule... du är dumb och du stinka...ooouff ta vu?? et cé pas raciste le truc sur israel CÉ LA VÉRITÉ!

[zakfoot4]

@MrChickybee1 et ta gueuele espece de sale supporteur d'israel...tu sait meme pa qu'est ce qui se passe labas...les putains d'israelians sont entrain de tuer de enfants et des femmes palestinians...je m'en fou qu'est ce que tu me dis...j'ai Allah toi ta rien alors degage

[zakfoot4]

@MrChickybee1 Mais cé n'importe quoi???ignorant....ta entendu sur un journal....et si tu savait cé pa pédé etre avec une fille si Muhammed est un homme????stupid

[zakfoot4]

@MrChickybee1 ta gueule connard! AA OUI j'ai oublié... c'est normal que tu parles comme ca sur Islam.... les suedois sont des pédés et parce que dans l'Islam les pédés vont en enfer tu insultes les musulmans...aa oui!

[zakfoot4]

@MrChickybee1 FUCK U ASS HOLE!!! GO FUCK UR BUSH!!FUCKING RACIST