Morocco: 137 Sudanese migrants from Casablanca repatriated
137 undocumented Sudanese migrants were repatriated to their country of origin from Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca on September 11th.
137 undocumented Sudanese migrants were repatriated to their country of origin from Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca on September 11th, according to the pro-Moroccan Yabiladi and agencies on September 14th.
This repatriation was part of an initiative coordinated by Moroccan authorities and the Sudanese embassy in Morocco, falling within Morocco’s humanitarian approach with their migration policy, which aims to uphold the dignity and rights of migrants.
This operation not only allows them to return to their home countries voluntarily, but also helps support the regularisation of thousands of migrants.
Mawda Omar Hageltoam El Badawi, Sudan’s ambassador to Morocco, welcomed the first return flight.
She expressed her gratitude and praise to King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan people for the support they provided to Sudanese nationals, ensuring the success of the initiative.
Furthermore, she stressed that the migrants hope to contribute to the development of their country and that Morocco’s approach to migration should serve as an example for other African countries.
The repatriation comes as Morocco continues to balance humanitarian commitments with increasingly strict migration controls.
On March 26th, Morocco called for reform in how the international community has handled the ongoing refugee crisis, appealing to address the root causes of displacement instead of managing the symptoms.
Morocco’s National Immigration and Asylum Strategy was presented as a blueprint for the reforms it believed should be introduced.
Morocco has also sought to strengthen protections for vulnerable migrants.
On April 22nd, Morocco’s National Human Rights Council signed a new agreement to strengthen the protection and support for victims of human trafficking, forming part of Morocco’s 2023-2030 national plan to combat human trafficking.
However, the wider migration picture remains complicated. On May 22nd, it was reported that Moroccan authorities intensified deportations and raids targeting Sub-Saharan African migrants, with operations concentrated heavily on Tangier and northern migration routes.
Migrant deaths and subsequent funerals for them have also been accounted for.
More recently, authorities detained 148 migrants following an attempted crossing into Ceuta, and a Moroccan man was expelled from Spain after assaulting two Civil Guard officers.
These developments illustrate the tension between Morocco’s stated humanitarian policies and its role in controlling migration routes towards Europe.
For Sudanese migrants, the situation is further shaped by the devastating conflict at home.
The conflict in Sudan continues to shape migration patterns, making efforts to ensure safe, voluntary, and dignified returns increasingly important for displaced Sudanese nationals.
Yabiladi, Maghrebi.org
Want to chase the pulse of North Africa?
Subscribe to receive our FREE weekly PDF magazine
