spotlight 3 legislation with relevant international or regional conventions.100 During 2024, the coastal countries in the south of the Sahel region, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin, have registered more than 62,400 new asylum applications. Confirming the region’s long-standing tradition of hospitality, in January 2025, the Ghanaian authorities granted prima facie refugee status to asylum-seekers from Burkina Faso, a decision that will benefit thousands of individuals that have fled to the country. Côte d’Ivoire also committed to proceed with granting refugee status to Burkinabe asylum-seekers in the country. To support the States to address the challenges associated with refugee influxes, a sub-regional Dialogue on National Security and Refugee Protection has been held regularly since March 2024. This helps to support States of the Gulf of Guinea in implementing their international commitments on the protection of refugees, while addressing their legitimate national security concerns. UNHCR also responds to the increasing number of forcibly displaced people in the region by prioritizing local solutions at community levels that support self-reliance and foster cohesion.101 Despite efforts to ease pressures within the region, onwards movements towards Europe by land and sea have increased. This includes refugees and migrants and in 2024, the number of Malians moving via irregular routes rose by 57 per cent to 19,200 compared to the previous year, with a notable increase observed along the Northwest Africa Maritime Route.102 Many people moving along the route were surveyed and cited conflict and insecurity as the primary reasons for leaving Mali.103 Statistics also showed that the number of civilian fatalities in Burkina Faso and Mali increased during 2024.104 The number of Malians recognised as refugees in Europe reached 12,200 in 2024, a three-fold increase from the previous year and the total protection rate also increased for Malians in Europe to 82 per cent in 2024 from 65 per cent in 2023.105 In response to mixed movements, UNHCR is implementing a route-based approach to protect lives. For example, through multi-purpose hubs in Chad and Niger, UNHCR, together with States and other partners, provides crucial services, guidance and accurate information, including on safe alternatives, to help people to make informed decisions before attempting dangerous journeys. Increased investment in the Sahel region is crucial, to ensure governments can continue to manage and provide viable solutions to the rising numbers of forcibly displaced individuals. Despite numerous challenges, countries affected by the Sahel crisis continue to show strong political will to build resilience and to support sustainable, communitybased responses to forced displacement. At the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, over 20 pledges were made by countries in the region. These included commitments to strengthen the inclusion of forcibly displaced populations into national systems such as education and health, reinforce protection environments, scale up climate action and transition from camps into sustainable human settlements. In parallel, at least 15 multilateral and bilateral development partners are actively supporting the integration of forcibly displaced people into national systems of health, water, sanitation and hygiene, education and social protection. These partnerships also aim to expand access to economic opportunities and increase community participation. Yet the scale and complexity of forced displacement in the region demand much more. Therefore UNHCR will continue to advocate for and assist forcibly displaced people in the region and the communities that so generously host them, seeking opportunities for lasting solutions. 100 All 21 countries in the West and Central Africa region, plus Mauritania, have ratified or acceded to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol and 16 countries in the region (including all countries in the Sahel Plus situation) are party to the African Union’s Kampala Convention to ensure protection and assistance provided to IDPs. 101 See UNHCR Sahel Plus Strategy, UNHCR. 102 See Detections of illegal border-crossings statistics, Frontex. 103 See 4Mi data, Mixed Migration Centre. 104 See Quarterly Mixed Migration Update, Quarter 4, 2024: West Africa, Mixed Migration Centre. 105 See [Asylum-seeker chapter] and How are asylum indicators calculated?, UNHCR. 28 UNHCR > GLOBAL TRENDS 2024