Escaping on Uncertain Tides to Uncertain Jurisdictions: Explaining Root Causes of a Persistent Trend Across the Mediterranean

Abstract

Thousands have died in their quest to cross the Mediterranean to some countries in mainland Europe. These voyages have been attributed to many believable reasons: escaping violence or economic hardship according to reports by transnational non-governmental organizations and intergovernmental organizations. Can we attribute these voyages, wholly, to economic factors and conflicts? What is the root cause of these travels that defy rationality? I argue in this paper that accounts by migrants is just like showing us a storey building standing at its basement. And that the root cause of escaping on uncertain tides to uncertain jurisdictions is fundamentally the politics of political leaders and stakeholders. The nature of politics in most Sub-Saharan African countries is chasing people away. How the grounds can be prepared for good politics will be discussed.