Mauritania's Crackdown On Refugees and Migrants

 

Mauritania is pursuing a  policy of cracking down on refugees and migrants. The influx of  people is the result of conflict in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Terrorist organizations and armed groups are attacking these nations. Refugees have no choice but to find safety elsewhere. Migrants are coming for economic reasons. Mauritania is used as an access point to the Canary Islands. From there getting to Spain could mean reaching France, Germany, or the UK. The dangerous travels, smuggling networks, and being detained by Mauritanian authorities put people's safety at risk. Migrants come from Senegal, Gambia, and Guinea. The renewed crackdown is part of a partnership by the European Union. The EU is getting Sahel and North African countries to participate in pushing back refugees and migrants. The EU asserts this is on humanitarian grounds directed at smuggling networks. The economic decline and unsafe conditions are a direct result of EU interference in Africa. Regime change, support of authoritarian leaders, and providing weapons to armed groups creates human migration. African countries refuse to use diplomatic leverage. A method of controlling European behavior would be to simply let migrants and refugees enter the EU. Mauritania would most likely not do this. The racism against Sub-Saharan  Africans and West Africans  is intense in the Sahel and North Africa. Mauritania is seeing a new wave of xenophobia presented in law and daily life. The immigration agreement undermines Mauritania's sovereignty, because it aids the objectives of Europe. Despite the barriers, migrants and refugees are still coming to Mauritania.   

Attempted Military Coup In Benin

 

Benin thwarted an military coup. Military coups are becoming more common across West Africa. The interior minister has reported that President Patrice Talon was safe. President Talon's exact location remains unknown. The administration did provide a statement. The coup plotters were condemned for disturbing the peace. A response from ECOWAS was to deploy soldiers. Forces from Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone are coming to support Benin's military. The concern with this relates to Benin's sovereignty and independence. Beninese are going to view such actions as occupation of their country. ECOWAS does not want governments like Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Africans are questioning institutions like ECOWAS, who at times as more of  an alignment to Europe and North America. All the coups of the 2020s are not revolutionary movements. Chad's coup was the assertion of the power of the Deby family. Little is known about the coup plotters. The name they give themselves is the Military Committee for Refoundation. This coup plot makes some more suspicious of the Beninese Armed Forces. Certain soldiers could be sympathizers with the Military Committee for Refoundation. Instability can cause intervention from neighbors and EU interference. The coup plot should be a reminder to the Beninese government to confront discord and corruption. Those grievances become the catalyst for military coups in African countries.