West-African 'transit' migrants in Istanbul; Istanbul: bridge to Europe?

Abstract

Turkey has always been an important bridge for migrants moving from the Middle East, Asia and Africa towards Europe. Nowadays, it is still seen as an important transit zone for many migrants intending to reach the western and northern countries. Although most of the migrants originate from neighbouring countries such as Syria, Iraq, and Iran a relatively new group shows up more frequently. Namely, more and more Africans start to migrate to Turkey in order to eventually use this country as a springboard to the European Union (EU). However, can one straightforwardly assert that West-African migrants, move to Turkey in order to enter Europe from there? This research is carried out in Istanbul, because it is considered as an important migration hub. For transit migrants such a hub is important because it allows them to settle down for an indefinite time period in order to raise funds before continuing their journey. Also in Istanbul the emergence of African migrants is a relatively new phenomenon. Despite the increasing numbers, Africans still remain a minority when compared to other migrant groups in Istanbul. Due to the fact that West-African migrants are a relatively new migrant group in Istanbul and because of the ongoing debates about transit migrants heading towards Europe, the main question of this research is as follows: How is the situation of West-African migrants in Istanbul like and how does this migration hub affect their eventual on-migration to Europe?

In order to answer the research question, first a categorization of the West-African migrants in Istanbul is provided. They could be defined as legal migrants, irregular migrants, asylum seekers or refugees. However, it became clear that West-African migrants cannot be classified straightforwardly. One moment they constitute the refugee category, another moment they are part of the irregular migrant flow. The continuing movements and dynamic of migrants makes it extremely difficult to define who these migrants exactly are, so although the four characterizations – legal, irregular, asylum seeker, and refugee – are useful, it only provides a broad picture.

Reasons why the West-African migrants moved to Istanbul are important to explore whether or not the migrants have intentions to continue their journey to Europe. However, like the categorization of the migrants, there is much overlap between reasons why West-Africans move to Istanbul. Most likely, it is a combination of economic reasons and escaping persecution or violence in their country of origin. Also, migrants might pretend they escaped violence in their country of origin while in fact their main reason is to improve their economic situation in another country. Furthermore, attention is put on the migrants who already declare that they have intentions to move on to Europe from here and thus, intend to use Istanbul as a springboard.

With regard to the situation of West-African migrants in Istanbul, one can say that the majority of the migrants are facing a hard time. In terms of housing, there are some neighbourhoods in Istanbul where there is a clustering of African migrants, these areas are Tarlabaşi and Aksaray. These neighbourhoods are ‘popular’ migrant places, because the rent is relatively low. However, it also means that the condition of the houses is terrifying. The migrants share the apartments with other migrants, sometimes the number of inhabitants mounts to twelve people. To get employed in Istanbul is another challenge for the West-African migrants. It is practically impossible to obtain a work permit. Luckily, Istanbul is known for its large informal sector, but unlucky for the West-African migrants it is hard to get a job and if they succeed to find one it is most likely a underpaid and physical heavy job.

The West-African migrants experience different sorts of mobility and immobility. Due to their mainly irregular status, they become stuck in transit. There is not enough money to return to their countries of origin. Moreover, if a migrant already wants to, he or she can barely afford it to pay a ‘middleman’ who can arrange a clandestine transfer to Greece. Also social pressure from back home discourages West-African migrants to eventually return, because their relatives expect them to bring money. Regarding the West Africans who apply for refugee status, they face a sort of forced mobility. Turkey and the UNHCR compel them to move to Ankara for their interviewees and when they will be accepted as refugees, they might be referred to a satellite city, which means they have to leave Istanbul with all its facilities.

All in all, the situation of West-African migrants in Istanbul is insecure and vulnerable. After they arrive in Istanbul, they soon move into irregularity. The housing and work conditions are dreadful and possible on-migration depends on encounters and contingencies occurring along the way. Hence, although Istanbul might have the facilities to continue a migrants’ journey, the so-called transit migration to Europe is influenced by the capacities of the West-African migrants to adapt to the local situation in Istanbul.