Niger Is a Transit Point for Thousands of Africans Headed North
When we see news of the African invasion of Europe, what’s generally presented is the situation on the Mediterranean of rickety boats jammed with young men determined to reach the free stuff of the First World. What’s even more alarming is how far they travel over dangerous desert terrain to demand life in Europe.
The BBC recently traveled to Niger, to see the long journey of the African men north. They begin in their villages and travel to the city of Agadez, a long-time center of migrant transit where space on a truck may be bought. Then they travel 1200 miles across the perilous Sahara to the Mediterranean in hopes of reaching Europe.
The perilous journey migrants make to reach north Africa, BBC, April 30, 2015
For migrants it is a dangerous journey to cross sub-Saharan Africa to reach the north African coast.
It is estimated that 100,000 migrants will go through the town of Agadez in Niger this year, higher than in 2014, putting their lives into the hands of smugglers. Some migrants will never make it, dying of thirst en route, or sold to militia for money.
A rugged infrastructure is in place for millions of Africans to head north, and they seem unaware of the dangers or choose to ignore them. Many of the illegal alien boat people come from Muslim nations, and the current chaos provides an enticing opportunity for jihadists wishing to make their way into infidel territory.
Europe needs to get realistic about the threat or it will be overrun in short order. The current policy of welcome is exactly the wrong message to send.
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