Irregular migration and its implications on transnational security in the Sahel Region

Abstract

This paper examined Irregular Migration and It Implications on Transnational Security in The Sahel Region. Irregular migration has become one of the most defining features of mobility in the Sahel region, shaped by a complex interaction of economic hardship, environmental stress, political instability, and weak state capacity. It examined the relationship between irregular migration and transnational security in the Sahel region, and how effective are the regional and international strategies in combating irregular migration in the Sahel. The paper utilized the Push-Pull Theory of Migration as the framework for analysis. It concluded that the intersection of irregular migration and transnational crime in the Sahel is inextricably linked. The migration routes that lead to the irregular settlement of the migrants, also facilitate the movement of people, weapons, and other contraband across the region’s porous borders. The paper recommended that Sahelian governments should prioritize inclusive economic development and youth employment programmes in migration-prone communities to reduce the push factors that drive irregular migration and Regional cooperation through ECOWAS, the African Union, and the G5 Sahel should be strengthened, particularly in intelligence sharing, joint border management, and coordinated responses to transnational crime.