Ms. Meloni has made it a priority to engage other nations in plans to block people from embarking on the perilous journey to Europe. The fact that Ms. Meloni, a figurehead of the new right, has not carried through on her pledges underscores how intractable the problem is. North AfricaIn the run-up to the 2022 election, Ms. Meloni said she would impose a naval blockade to prevent boats from leaving North Africa. Ms. Meloni visited Tunisia twice in June, seeking progress in unblocking loans that she says are needed to avoid a financial crisis that might trigger a tsunami of departures. However, a review of migrant flows through Europe over the past decade suggests Italy might not benefit in the way Ms. Meloni hopes.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 01, 2023 18:03 UTC