23 migrants die at the Spanish border

Twenty-three people died on Friday 24 June 2022 as they tried to cross the wall between Nador in Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Melilla in a mass attack. Images show dozens of tangled bodies, dead and injured, lying on the ground after Moroccan police tried to push them back.

This tragedy raises the issue of migration policy in Africa and the imperative need to respect the fundamental rights of sub-Saharan migrants.

Indeed, the treatment of these young Africans on the Moroccan-Spanish border is causing considerable indignation. On 18 June last, violent clashes were noted in the same area between migrants and Moroccan police forces, resulting in several injuries. Nador, a strategic point for potential immigrants, is now a ” forbidden zone ” for them as they are forced to retreat into the forests in order to reach Europe.

However, these men and women in search of greener pastures deserve respect. They have rights and freedoms that are based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which solemnly guarantees equality between individuals and the principle of non-discrimination. This text protects all individuals against torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) follows the same logic as the aforementioned declaration. According to it, everyone has the right to freedom of movement, to seek or enjoy asylum from persecution. In its Article 12, the ACHPR notes that “everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within a State.

In the same perspective, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 16 December 1966, in its article 2, states that: “The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to respect and to ensure to all individuals within their territory and subject to their jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Thus, it is established that nothing can justify certain actions against migrants who, on the contrary, must be protected and taken care of in all areas (education, health, etc.)

AfricTivistes finds degrading and very revolting what happened at the border between Morocco and Spain. This tragedy reminds all of the sacredness of human life and the responsibility of the political authorities to ensure the safety of potential migration; but also to systematically condemn threats and attacks on the lives of Africans.

We believe that the actions of the African authorities and the attitude of the countries of origin of the migrants do not match the catastrophe and humanitarian chaos caused by this scourge.

We denounce the laxity of African institutions regarding the treatment of sub-Saharan migrants in the world and deplore the absence of a real African policy on migration.

We condemn the absence of an African mechanism for the rapid care of migrants in distress.

We demand an international investigation to shed light on this human tragedy and to establish who is responsible.

We call on the African stakeholders to meet as soon as possible to hold crucial discussions on the disastrous consequences of migration in the continent.

We demand that all States (countries of origin of migrants, transit countries and European countries) respect international texts and conventions on human rights and migrants’ rights. We urge them to put forward humanity and acceptance of the other in their different actions.