Trans-Sahara and Mediterranean Irregular Migration: A Cause of Global Security Threat and a Consequence of Human Insecurity

Global security helps to promote durable peace and development in the world. It holds power accountable and protects the human rights of people as well as prevents violent and organised crimes. Today, the global community is faced with security threats such as terrorism, human and drug trafficking, small arms proliferation, spread of socio-cultural, religious and political extremism and dogmatism as well as other organised crimes associated with human migration. This paper, therefore, interrogated the trans-Sahara and Mediterranean irregular migration as a global security threat as well as a consequence of human insecurity. The main objective of the paper was to appraise the contemporary human migration across the Sahara Desert and Mediterranean Sea and its link with threats to global security. Specifically, the paper sought to determine the root-causes of irregular migration as well as the unwholesome activities of some migrants considered a threat to global security. Using conceptual analysis, the paper was anchored on a combination of dependency theory and human security perspective as its framework. The findings of the study revealed that poverty, underdevelopment, armed conflicts, repressive leadership, gross human rights abuses, and natural disasters are among the human security threats that constitute the push factors of irregular migration. Also, the unwholesome activities of some migrants such as terrorism, human and drug trafficking, small arms proliferation, and other transnational crimes constitute a threat to global security. The paper, therefore, recommended a strategic action plan by both the source and recipient regions of migrants to address the human security threat in the source region. Also, there should be global concerted efforts in combating terrorism, human and drug trafficking, arms proliferation, and other organised crimes which pose a threat to global security.