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Illegal immigration in Spain
Related to country: Spain

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Spain is still the preferred route to Europe for many Africans seeking a better life through illegal immigration, but the number of those making the dangerous ocean crossing in flimsy boats has been sharply reduced this year.

Fassara Keita, 26, considers himself among the fortunate. He says he was working as a security guard in his native Mali, but fled a death threat. He walked and rode buses to reach Morocco.

From there, he paid 750 euros ($1,050) last July for a ride in a small boat with 34 other immigrants, which took three days to reach Fuerteventura, one of Spain's Canary Islands.

Arriving without documentation, he was held for 39 days on Fuerteventura, received aid from the Red Cross, and then was flown to Madrid.

"I am asking for asylum. I don't know when I'll get my papers," Keita told CNN. "But I'm better off here than in Mali."

Not all are so lucky. Just this week, six Africans died trying to reach Spain. The boats are flimsy, overcrowded, the crossing perilous. Some flee danger; many others seek jobs.

The Spanish government says illegal crossings by boat reaching all Spanish shores have declined by 60 percent this year, compared with last. The decline is 67 percent for the boats specifically reaching Spain's Canary Islands this year. About 31,000 illegal immigrants arrived by boat last year to the Canaries, which lie a mere 67 miles (110 km) off the coast of northwest Africa.

Officials say the decline is due to increased patrols off the west African coast, in cooperation with the European Union and some African countries. Another factor, they say, is the planeloads of immigrants - more than 6,500 this year alone - who have been sent back to Africa.

Spanish authorities say there's still much work to do.

"As long as the boats keep coming and as long as there's even one death in the Atlantic, we must work forcefully to end clandestine immigration," said Consuelo Rumi, Spain's Secretary of State for Immigration.

Rumi said "the only ones who can be blamed" are the mafias which traffic in humans, and "trick, defraud and extort" the immigrants when offering the clandestine boat rides.

In Madrid, the Roman Catholic Church supports a center catering to African immigrants. It is called Karibu, which means "welcome" in Swahili, said Karibu director Antonio Diaz de Freijo. Diaz de Freijo worked for 12 years as missionary in Africa before helping to start Karibu 20 years ago.

As many as 4,000 African immigrants a year get clothing, food, medical attention and advice at Karibu. But the director says what they really need are working papers.

"The people we serve can't work and fully integrate into society," Diaz de Freijo said. "That's what separates sub-Saharan Africans here from other immigrants."

A Spanish government amnesty two years ago allowed 600,000 illegal immigrants to become legal. But some experts say many sub-Saharan Africans were left out, because they didn't have even the basic documentation to present to authorities.

Immigrants from Latin America, Eastern Europe and Africa now make up nine percent of Spain's population of 45 million. Morocco and Romania are the leading sources, with more than 500,000 immigrants from each nation, while Ecuador has sent more than 400,000.

The total number of immigrants from the combined, numerous sub-Saharan African countries is far less, but their plight on the boats has sparked a great deal of media attention, some experts say.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is due to speak about immigration at a summit meeting of European Union and Africa nations this weekend in Lisbon, his office said in a statement.

Zapatero is expected to propose a European-African pact based on three principals: developing employment and opportunities for young Africans to help them remain at home; a policy of managing legal migration that includes developing infrastructure as a key to growth, and a firm policy against the clandestine trafficking of illegal immigrants.

In Madrid at the Karibu center, a motorcycle mechanic from Liberia, who gave his name only as Charles, told CNN he'd rather try to get official paperwork to remain in Spain than return home.

"Going back to my country, that is going to be the most difficult," Charles said. "I prefer to live this kind of life in Spain."

April 6, 2008 | 5:35 AM Comments  0 comments

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World Trade Center, Cyber Cafe in Cameroon

TIG Cameroon, for the past years has increased in membership and updates, due to the great help of the World Trade Center Cyber Cafe, in Bonaberi,Douala, Cameroon.This cyber cafe has been helping TIG Cameroon in most of it's internet contacts and in exchange, TIG Cameroon's members do offer a helping hand at the cafe.

The relationship between TIG Cameroon and WTC Cyber cafe is becoming well known and stronger bonds are being created every day.
I wish to express great thanks to the following people:

Fukah Nazarius ( General Manager and Owner of WTC Cafe)
Fukah Lawrence ( Manager of WTC Cafe)
Tapning Virginie ( Secretary )

hey!! I nearly 4got something very important; I was offered a job at this cafe too :) . I work as the internet monitor and assist the manager.

To contact the World Trade Center Cyber Cafe use the below address:

World Trade Center Inc.
BP: 9587 Douala
Tel/Fax: +237 339 0949
Email: worldtcenter2002@yahoo.com

March 12, 2003 | 5:19 AM Comments  0 comments

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American Embassy in Cameroon

The American embassy in Cameroon is becoming a rendez vous spot where friends get to meet with same reason of travelling to the USA. Yes!! I tell you,it's a dram there. People can be found infront of the embassy even at mid night to reserve their spaces for the next days interview.Others make money to reserve spaces for others on the waiting bench infront of the embassy.

Not less than 50 people go in for the interview daily, but not up to 3 can get a visa for the USA. The question now remains open;"Is America too full for others to travel in to, or is America the only country people can travel to to make ends meet?". I bet you my dear friends,at the american embassy in Cameroon, you'll find even friends it's been donkey years you've not met, coming surely for their 10th time to ask for a visa to America. Some come for student visas, which is some times easily granted while others come for business visas,normal visa to visit family or friend. Why are visas to America very difficult to obtain?Why are there hundreds of people daily heading for America, upon all the Iraq and Bin Laden issues gushing there?What is in American that can not be found in different countries in the worl, or is it that America is a free land, that while in it, you are free to carry out all types of criminal activies?

At first I thought only Cameroonians were interested going to America, till the day I visited Nigeria and I brizes passed the American embassy there.The crowd was really jam packed.Gabon, same and I'm sure, many other African countries too. There is something which surely most Americans don't know;The DV Lottary, where people and family could win a permanent residence permit in to America. Winning this lottary doesn't mean you are sure to go to America, for the cost of all other requirements the embassy ask, will surely push you to sell your only house. Many Africans have won this lottary and others around the world.To know more on this just try a google search on the DV Lottary and you'll be amazed with the results.

I wonder if life in America is that easy that most people wish to go there for a better life style. I'll know more and share with others, when I'll be there my self. C U there.

October 8, 2002 | 1:16 PM Comments  0 comments

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Life Action

If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.

August 3, 2002 | 9:25 AM Comments  0 comments

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Watch Out

"What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are
tiny matters compared to what lives within us".
This happened in Paris. A few weeks ago, in a movie
theatre, person sat on something poking that was on
one of the seats. When she got up to see what it was,
she found a needle sticking out of the seat with a
note attached saying: Youhave just been infected by
HIV". The Disease Control Centre (in Paris) reports
many similar events in many other cities recently.

All tested needles ARE HIV Positive. The Centre also
reports that needles have been found in the cash
dispensers at public Banking Machines We ask
everyone to use extreme caution when faced with this
kind of situation. All public chairs/seats should be
inspected with vigilance and caution before use. A
careful visual inspection should be enough. In
addition,they ask that each of you pass this message
along to all members of your family and your friends
of the potential danger.

Recently, one doctor has narrated somewhat a similar
instance happened at the Priya Cinema in Delhi to one
of his patients. A Young Girl engaged and about to be
married in a couple of months was pricked while the
movie was going on. The tag with the needle had the
message "Welcome to the World of HIV+ family". Though
the doctors told her family that it takes about 6
months before the virus grow strong enough to start
damaging your system and a healthy victim could
survive about 5-6 years. The girl died in 4 months,
perhaps more because of the " Shock - thought". We all
have to be careful at public places, rest God help!

July 24, 2002 | 5:24 PM Comments  0 comments

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