Illegal migration from Africa to EU on the rise

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.

Zimbabwe's U.S. Visit Discussion

Interview with Newton Kanhema of the Zimbabwe Independence Assistance Network talks about Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's U.S. visit.

Darfur refugee camp 'hiding rebels'

Sudan's governemnt has accused Darfur's largest refugee camp of harbouring rebel fighters. The Kalma camp is the only one that is permanently protected by United Nations and African Union forces, but residents fear they may be driven out as the military threatens to take action. Al Jazeera's Hoda Abdel-Hamid reports from the camp.

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