Italian PM: Sudan war creating new migrant crisis

LONDON: Italy is reporting an influx of Sudanese refugees who are fleeing the civil war in their country and crossing the Mediterranean Sea, The Times reported.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told ministers in Rome: “Sudanese refugees are no longer stopping in Egypt but heading for Libya and from there coming to us.”
The conflict in Sudan — which began last April — has displaced almost 8 million people. About 1.6 million have fled to African countries including the Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia and South Sudan, with about 450,000 moving north into Egypt.
But Libya’s lack of governance and proximity to Egypt has seen many migrants opt to depart for Europe from the country’s coastline.
Last year, most migrants arriving in Italy via the Mediterranean crossed via Tunisia, but this year Libya took the lead, with Meloni saying: “The coast around Tripoli is ¬seeing an increase in departures.”
Almost 6,000 Sudanese arrived in Italy in 2023. The situation is compounded by the decriminalization of people-trafficking in Niger — a key migration hub in Africa.
The same northward migration trend seen in Africa is mirrored in Europe, with refugees and migrants moving north from arrival points in Italy to countries such as France and the UK.
Last month, Meloni urged support for a government plan to invest in African states as a buffer against migration.
Italy is also awaiting Albania’s approval of a deal that will see thousands of migrants temporarily housed in the Balkan state while their asylum applications are processed.