The economic and social challenges of irregular African migrants in Europe: Questions for theological reflections

Abstract

Irregular  african migrants in Europe have increased tremendously in the last few years. With the on-going Mediterranean crisis, migratory flows from Africa make up the largest share of migration into Europe They come in rickety ships and boats, and arrive almost every day at the Southern European shores, most of them fleeing genuine human crisis. The Migration Policy Institute believes there are between seven and eight million irregular African migrants living in the European Union (EU), an increasing number coming from Western Africa, mainly Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal'