Global leadership is lacking on migration challenges

Riots in France in July, following the tragic killing of a young boy from a Moroccan migrant family by a French policeman, still lingers in the minds of many Eastern European officials.

Prolonged violent unrest has shaken France's political landscape and emboldened the far right, potentially paving the way for their ascent to power unless radical political changes are enacted.

Read more: The rise of Europe's far right: Origins and dangers

Meanwhile, the numbers of those fleeing the conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces continue to rise daily, with thousands seeking refuge in neighbouring countries already grappling with their own problems and tragedies.

We are confronted with various forms of asylum driven by factors such as civil wars, political instability, and the effects of climate change.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has declared that climate change has reached a point of no return, compelling millions of farmers and those affected by desertification, drought, and floods to embark on perilous journeys, often by rickety boats, in hopes of reaching European shores in Cyprus, Greece, or Italy.

The lucky ones who survive the journey, find themselves waiting in assembly centres, hoping for food and assistance, trying to join the European Welfare system.

Read more: A new 'Berlin Wall'?: How Europe's treatment of migrants clashes with its claimed values

These successive calamities have no single root cause.

They result from development failures in Southern countries, the entrenched corrupt and authoritarian governments in power and their reliance on violence and repression to maintain control.

Short-sighted Western policies, such as the Fransafric policy, prioritise the interests of former colonial powers over those of Third World populations, often without realising the long-term repercussions.

For instance, South Americans crossing the US-Mexico border are not solely products of climate change and a lack of prospects in their home countries; they are also victims of Washington's decades-long treatment of Latin America as its "backyard."

At the heart of these issues lies a void in international leadership and vision. The multipolar world of leaders seeking to expand their influence and break free from Western centralism lacks a responsible power or state willing to address the challenges faced by neighbouring or distant countries with whom they share political or economic interests.

The United Nations has lost its efficacy, resembling non-governmental organisations that wait for funding and often focus on limited activities with uncertain returns.

Undoubtedly, available statistics and indicators suggest that the current approach to migration is on a catastrophic trajectory.

Regional groups like the European Union and major countries like the United States search for solutions within their borders and peripheries. Still, they cannot fundamentally reshape the entire asylum landscape and address the complex issues surrounding migration.