Concerned about the spread of the coronavirus, many smugglers, armed groups and communities are imposing their own restrictions on movement.
New evidence gathered by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime suggests growing hostility towards human smuggling in regions where the activity is deeply entrenched in the political economy.
Meanwhile in southern Libya, Tebu militants have become markedly more hostile to human smuggling and intercepted smugglers coming through Niger.
This change created a considerable disjunct between Niger's legal position on human smuggling - making it punishable by imprisonment of 5-30 years - and the popular perception that smugglers merely provide a transport service for migrants looking for a better life.
In fact, many smugglers have decided to continue their operations despite the pandemic, including in southern Libya, northern Niger and Chad.
