Migration has long served as a barometer of evolving realities in Africa, reflecting both the challenges it faces and its adaptive strategies.

The civil war in Sudan, ignited in April 2023 by a ruptured power-sharing pact between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, has devoured the nation with a ferocity rivaling its darkest historical chapters.

Africa, a continent abundant in natural resources and human capital, should theoretically be fertile ground for economic dynamism. Yet it grapples with profound challenges that perpetuate what has come to be known as the “Africa Gap.”

Why has North Africa, with its complex history and fragile political fabric, turned to the scapegoating of refugees and migrants amid its own crises?

As we enter 2025, the Middle East and North Africa region stands at a major turning point shaped by a complex mix of unique internal dynamics and political economies, shifting geopolitical realities, economic dependencies, significant demographic shifts and persistent external influences.