Africa · Chokepoint assessment
Strait of Gibraltar and North African coast
A busy, well-policed strait. The main issues are migrant crossings, drug smuggling and instability around Libyan ports.
Atlantic–Mediterranean traffic, Tanger Med transhipment and Maghreb coastal ports.
Main threats
- Migrant boats and rescue obligations
- Drug smuggling
- Armed-group control of Libyan port areas
What this means for shipping
- Brief crews on rescue-at-sea duties
- Assess Libyan port calls one by one
What to watch
- Libyan political clashes
- Central Mediterranean migration flows
Ports on this route
Banjul, Gambia Low
Small river-mouth port.
Dakar, Senegal Moderate
Atlantic gateway; departure area for migrant boats to the Canaries.
Nouakchott, Mauritania Moderate
Migrant departures toward the Canary Islands.
Praia, Cabo Verde Low
Island port on Atlantic drug routes.
Tanger Med, Morocco Low
Africa's largest container port at the Strait of Gibraltar.
Casablanca, Morocco Low
Morocco's main commercial port.
Algiers, Algeria Low
Main Algerian port; strict state controls.
Tunis / Radès, Tunisia Moderate
Main Tunisian container port.
Sfax, Tunisia Substantial
Main departure area for migrant boats to Italy.
Tripoli, Libya Severe
Armed-group clashes in the capital can close the port.
Misrata, Libya Substantial
Free-zone port controlled by local forces.
Sources
Threat level is an Mazin Intel analytical judgement from public sources, not a live feed or official rating.