"On the line" a documentary on alternatives to detention and deportation
Exploring alternatives to immigration detention and deportation is a key topic in the current conversation about forced human mobility in the continent. Are there viable alternatives to South Africa’s immigration detention and deportation system? This was the central question examined at the launch of the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town’s new documentary, On The Line, on August 28th at Cape Town’s Labia Theatre. The event gathered around eighty individuals from refugee-led organisations, civil society,...
SIHMA Christmas Message for 2024
Dear readers, We wish all who celebrate Christmas, whose faith opens them to embracing vulnerability - through this vulnerable Baby - we wish you blessings for this season. For those whose faith has different contours and those of no faith at all - we wish you a time of profound reflection, new hope and deep courage as you ponder with Christians the unsettling message of Christmas. Each year, the Christmas story finds deeper relevance...
SIHMA Press Review for November 2024
PRESS REVIEW – SOUTH AFRICA 01 - South Africa shuts border crossing with Mozambique over poll unrest Wycliffe Muia, BBC News, 11/06/2024 South Africa has closed the Lebombo border crossing with Mozambique amid violent protests following Mozambique's disputed presidential election. The unrest has resulted in torched vehicles and damaged buildings near the border. South African authorities fired rubber bullets and...
Land, Livelihood, and Limited Resources: Uganda’s Refugee Hosting Challenge
Uganda hosts the highest number of refugees and asylum-seekers in Africa, with nearly 1.7 million individuals as of 2024, primarily from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This immense population reflects Uganda's decades-long commitment to providing refuge, underscored by progressive policies aligned with the Global Compact on Refugees. These policies grant refugees land, freedom of movement, and the ability to reside in urban areas if they can support themselves. However, Uganda faces significant challenges,...
Madagascar and Djibouti Shipwrecks Highlight Migrants' Deadly Journeys on the East African Route
A series of tragic shipwrecks in 2024 highlights the perils faced by migrants on the East African Route, one of the world’s deadliest migration corridors. Recent incidents near Madagascar and Djibouti have claimed dozens of lives, underscoring the urgent need for international cooperation to address unsafe migration, human trafficking, and systemic issues driving these journeys. Efforts by organizations like the IOM aim to provide aid and protection, but challenges persist in ensuring safe pathways and addressing root causes....
The Impact of International Sanctions on Zimbabwe’s Migratory Regime
The movement of Zimbabweans beyond their country’s borders has captured international attention, becoming a poignant reminder of the broader socio-economic challenges the country faces. A closer look reveals that this phenomenon is not a matter of personal ambition for migrants, but rather a survival strategy catalyzed by external and internal pressures, most notably the economic sanctions imposed by the international community, the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union on Zimbabwe. The...
