The inaugural issue of the Journal of Migration and Societies marks the beginning of a scholarly platform dedicated to advancing critical, interdisciplinary conversations on human mobility and its far‑reaching social implications. Bringing together emerging and established voices, this first volume explores the complex intersections of migration with identity, governance, inequality, culture, and community formation.

Across its contributions, the issue highlights the diverse experiences of migrants and the evolving structures that shape mobility in a rapidly changing world. Articles examine both contemporary and historical dynamics, offering empirical depth, theoretical innovation, and methodological plurality. Together, they set the tone for a journal committed to rigorous inquiry, global perspectives, and the pursuit of knowledge that informs policy, enriches public understanding, and deepens academic debate.

As the journal’s foundational publication, this issue establishes a space for dialogue across disciplines and geographies—inviting readers to engage with the multifaceted realities of migration and the societies it transforms.

This special issue of the Journal of Migration and Societies brings together sixteen original research articles examining migration in North Africa in its full complexity. Spanning history, geography, anthropology, public health, law, political science, and sociology, the collection addresses a region that sits at one of the world's most consequential migration crossroads — where sub-Saharan African mobility systems meet the Mediterranean, where colonial histories shape contemporary realities, and where some of the most urgent questions in global migration governance are being played out in real time.