Migrant Smuggling Data and Research

perspective of the migration dynamics, rather than looking at it within broader
studies would also be useful. Finally, as it is well documented that certain trans-
Saharan tribes are prominent in the smuggling routes into Libya and in the south
of Libya (Malakooti, 2013a; Reitano, Adal and Shaw, 2014), more research among
these communities and in terms of better understanding their motivations for
entering the smuggling trade, would be useful.
Conclusion and ways forward
There is a lack of data on smuggling and irregular migration in the region.
As the region is dynamic, with numbers shifting regularly, more initiatives are
required that provide rapid, regularly updated, rigorous estimates.
Initiatives such as the Migrant Footprint Database and the Smuggling
Monitor show promise for the bringing together of information about smuggling
in the region, but for rigorous estimates to be generated on the number of
irregular and smuggled migrants in the region, a methodology is required that
interviews a number of key informants at a number of levels at regular and
frequent intervals.
For this reason, IOM Libya’s DTM exercise shows promise for developing
rigorous estimates for Libya and, depending on how the pilot phase eventuates,
it might be beneficial to replicate the same exercise in other countries in the
region. Having said that, the majority of smuggling in the region is occurring
in, to and from Libya. Thus, generating more accurate data for Libya would
prove beneficial to the entire region. Once a better sense of the scope of the
phenomenon in Libya is attained, it will be easier to gauge whether more data is
required for the region.
In terms of research, most of the previous research in the area has focused
on Libya, or on European destinations on the Central Mediterranean route. More
research in other countries in the region, particularly Egypt – which is probably
the most dynamic after Libya – and more information about the dynamics at
transit points would be beneficial. Also, in terms of smuggling routes in the
region, most mapping exercises have focused on routes to Libya, routes from
North Africa to Europe, and routes from other countries in the region to Libya.
There is little research on the routes into the other countries in the region.
Finally, more ongoing analysis of the development of smuggling networks,
and the entry of new players in the smuggling market in Libya, particularly as
the conflict unfolds and becomes more intertwined with migrant smuggling,
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4. North Africa