The Maghreb and Sahel4 regions continue to be the site of major east-west and northsouth migration routes. Both regions suffer from low-intensity conflicts, autocratic rule, terrorist activities and organized crime. The fight against terrorism and organized crime requires the existence of structured international cooperation and the ability to formulate common policies. However, these regions are far from achieving coherence in battling international terrorism – a problem since the early 1990s – and in addressing arms smuggling, which has been a source of friction since the Arab
Spring of 2011.