Leaders from Europe, Africa and the Middle East will meet in Paris this weekend to launch the Mediterranean Union.
The new body aims to strengthen ties between Europe and its southern neighbours.
Many of those migrating to North Africa and Europe come from West and Central Africa.
Their pursuit of a better life takes them on a dangerous journey north across the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea.
They leave their home countries and travel to transit countries such as Mauritania, Mali and Niger.
There, they begin their journey across desert borders to North Africa and then on to Europe.
Al Jazeera's Casey Kauffman traveled to the northeast of Mali and met up with a group of migrants on the first leg of their journey across the Sahara.
Nyasa Times "Minister of Women and Child Development Kate Kainja-Kaluluma has passed away in United Kingdom. “Indeed Hon Kate Kainja Kaluluma has died,” confirmed family friends in London. The 57-year-old minister was admitted to a North England hospital – York Hospital. Diplomatic sources at Malawi High Commission in London have said arrangements are being made to send her remains to Malawi. Kainja who was Dedza South West Constituency parliamentarian flew to United Kingdom for medical attention after a long-illness. She is survived by a husband, Emanuel Kaluluma and three children."