Over the past few weeks, there’s been some stir about the several dozen Syrian families who arrived in Ber and Khalil, cities in northern Mali controlled by the Coordination of the Azawad Movements, a Tuareg separatist group. These families have travelled to West Africa in a roundabout attempt to reach Europe along the route used by sub-Saharan African migrants.They crossed into Mali after flying into the city of Nouakchott in neighbouring Mauritania, which doesn’t require visas from Syrians. They hope to cross into Algeria, then Europe.Other Syrian families are also travelling through the Malian capital, Bamako, on their way to Europe. Some refugees are staying with locals, while others are being housed in a stadium.