Living with Uncertainty

Historical migration patterns across the Sahara, particularly through UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Ouadane and Chinguetti, reveal enduring mobility trends from the Sahel to North Africa. Analysis of trade routes—including the Ghadames, Garamantean, and Oualata roads—shows sustained movement of people and goods since 1500 BCE, peaking between the 8th and 17th centuries CE with commodities like salt, gold, and slaves. Contemporary migration flows remain active, with migrants from countries including Mali, Niger, and Chad moving to Libya and Tunisia, often engaging in circular migration. This continuity underscores the resilience of trans-Saharan mobility despite geopolitical changes.

Attir, M. O., Jouili, M., & Larémont, R. R. (2020). Living with Uncertainty. Mobility and Forced Displacement in the Middle East, 133–164. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197531365.003.0007