Human Trafficking in Africa: A Lucrative Business
Seven million Africans are trapped in modern slavery, with many falling prey to human traffickers in their quest for a better life. Migrants are particularly vulnerable, with some being sold into prostitution or forced labor. The situation is exacerbated by the lack of criminal prosecution and the growing use of modern communication technologies by traffickers.
According to estimates by the international human rights group “Walk Free”, seven million people with and without migration narratives were living under conditions of modern slavery across Africa in 2021. More than 3 million were married off in forced marriages, and nearly 4 million people were sold into forced labor.
The driving factor behind this growth in human trafficking in Africa is the difficult political and social situation of the people in various African countries. A shortage of food, housing, and jobs, as well as the worsening security situation in various crisis regions, are the main factors driving people to make the journey.
Human trafficking is a lucrative business, with traffickers often using false promises of a better life to lure victims. The lack of criminal prosecution has encouraged many human traffickers to continue their activities, with many victims ending up dead along the way.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that at least 8,565 people died on international migration routes in 2023, with many more deaths not being recorded. The IOM also reported that more people die in the desert than at sea.
The European Union (EU) has been criticized for its role in perpetuating human trafficking in Africa. The EU has launched controversial partnerships with the security forces of African states to intercept migrants, which has led to more people being deported back to their countries of origin.
Despite some successes in combating human trafficking, such as the joint operation “Operation Flash-Weka” which resulted in over 1,000 arrests and the discovery of thousands of victims of criminal networks, the measures against human trafficking fall short of the goals set.
The aid organization “Walk Free” is calling for governments to cooperate more closely together to combat human trafficking, and for the implementation of existing laws against human trafficking. The organization is also calling for a boycott of goods and services that are produced using forced labor.
However, implementing such measures is proving to be difficult, as child and forced labor practices are part of many supply chains in everyday products. The international community must work together to address this complex issue and bring an end to the scourge of human trafficking in Africa.
