Migration
Déplacements internes en afrique
Les conflits la violence les catastrophes et les effets du changement climatique déplacent des millions de personnes mais la grande majorité des déplacés restent à l'intérieur des frontières de leur propre pays un phénomène appelé « déplacement interne ». Pour ces personnes familles et communautés la mobilité n'est pas un choix mais une réponse nécessaire à la survie vitale pour leur sécurité et leur bien-être. Au niveau mondial on estime à 413 millions le nombre de personnes déplacées à l'intérieur des frontières de leur pays en raison de conflits et de violences dont près de 41 % se trouvaient dans des pays d'Afrique en 2019 (IDMC 2019a). La même année les sécheresses les inondations et les cyclones tropicaux sur le continent ont déplacé 26 millions de personnes supplémentaires (IDMC 2019a 2019b).
The data question: The challenge of measuring irregular migration in Africa
The lack of available and reliable data on irregular migration along with methodological limitations on how these influence narratives of migration in Africa is examined in this chapter. Data collection on irregular migration stocks especially migration flows is inherently difficult due to the nature in which this occurs. They often take place outside the regulatory norms and are likely to go unrecorded or susceptible to double counting. The absence of any internationally accepted definition of “irregular” migration/migrant sometimes called “illegal” “clandestine” or “undocumented” migration compounds the problem. The author cautions that the numbers used in the analysis should be considered as an indication of general trends rather than complete figures. An overview of existing data shows that despite popular narratives on irregular migration from Africa to Europe relatively little is known about irregular migration in the African context as most African migrants generally move within the continent and that migration from key countries in Africa to the European Union in recent years has been mostly regular. The chapter concludes that any discussions of irregular migration data should always be contextualized and recommends that the use of new technologies may provide insights into irregular movements in Africa and help to overcome some of the inherent difficulties in traditional sources of measuring irregular migration.
Introduction
At a time when an unwarranted fear of the African migrant in the Sahel and across the Mediterranean Sea had taken over public narratives on immigration the first edition of the Africa Migration Report was published to change dominant discourses. The imperative was clear: we must “protect the millions of people who have been forcibly displaced by conflict and disaster and create opportunities for Pan-African solidarity rather than constrain them” (African Union and IOM 2020:10). This urgency remains as critical today as it was then because African people are on the move across the continent in search of both safety and opportunities. Beyond disasters and conflicts migration has always been “woven into the DNA of African communities economies and societies” (ibid.:3).
Migration et santé
Ce chapitre étudie la relation entre migration et santé notamment la résilience la vulnérabilité et les déterminants sociaux de la santé tout au long du cycle migratoire. Il soutient que la gouvernance de la santé dans le contexte migratoire devrait inclure le contrôle des maladies transmissibles la sécurité sanitaire la couverture sanitaire universelle (UHC) et les systèmes réceptifs aux migrations qui sont tous essentiels à la sécurité sanitaire à la santé publique et au développement. L'Objectif 3 des Objectifs de développement durable (ODD) l'Agenda 2063 de l'Union africaine la Stratégie africaine pour la santé et le Cadre de politique migratoire pour l'Afrique de l'Union africaine les résolutions 61.17 et 70.15 de l'Assemblée mondiale de la santé (AMS) proposent un cadre de mise en oeuvre. Une grande importance est accordée à la recherche et aux données aux cadres politiques et juridiques inclusifs aux systèmes de santé et aux partenariats réceptifs aux migrations. En outre les instruments internationaux et régionaux relatifs aux droits de l'homme reconnaissent que toute personne a droit au meilleur état de santé physique et mentale possible quel que soit son statut juridique. Par ailleurs ils garantissent l'égalité et luttent contre la discrimination. Ces instruments englobent et protègent donc les migrants quel que soit leur statut. Néanmoins il est important de noter que les migrants africains se heurtent à des obstacles pour accéder aux services dans des systèmes de santé déjà surchargés où la santé des migrants est traitée sous l'angle de la sécurité sanitaire : les migrants sont considérés comme vecteurs de maladies. En conclusion la santé des migrants est essentielle à une gestion efficace des migrations et doit être intégrée aux objectifs des programmes de santé.
Migration and security in Africa: Implications for the free movement of persons agenda
The chapter discusses the concept of the securitization of migration and how it impacts migration policies in Africa and the impeding progress towards the continent’s free movement of persons’ agenda. There is however an acknowledgement of the fragility of Africa’s security environment with a wide array of ongoing and emerging threats including non-State threats. Militia factions and armed gangs are ubiquitous in the continent’s civil wars fighting both for and against African governments. A nexus has also developed among organized criminal groups involved in transnational organized crimes such as terrorism kidnapping human trafficking smuggling of migrants and smuggling of arms and weapons. Similarly porous borders the absence of harmonized travel documents lack of policy harmonization by member States and lack of capacity and appropriate infrastructure for border management are additional concerns for African member States. The securitization of migration is practically demonstrated through enhancing border controls tightening visa policies and population profiling. Nevertheless evidence on the prevailing narrative on links between migration and security remains largely anecdotal. The chapter asserts that no clear correlation between free movement of persons and increasing insecurity can be found and therefore note that it is important to bring evidence on the linkages between migration and security in order to disprove an often misinformed public debate.
Reorganizing borders in the age of free movement in Africa
This chapter looks at the future of border management as Africa takes important steps towards a new era of free movement across the continent on the premise that Aspiration 2 of the African Union Agenda 2063 which envisions a continent with “seamless borders” where “the free movement of people capital goods and services” does not imply the removal of colonial boundaries. As such effective and efficient border management will take new dimensions and remain a priority for the foreseeable future. Issues affecting African border management are examined including the following: (a) visa liberalization in Africa; (b) free movement in the regional economic communities (RECs); (c) border data and the importance of evidence-based policymaking; (d) an integrated border management (IBM) approach; (e) one-stop border posts (OSBPs); (f) travel documentation; (g) free trade; and (h) Global Compact for Safe Orderly and Regular Migration. The chapter recommends that States should adopt an IBM approach and establish OSBPs that experience significant flows of people and goods as well as establish border management information systems (BMIS) at all principal ports of entry.
Missing migrants in and from Africa: A look into the data and policy gaps
More than 12000 deaths during migration have been documented in Africa since 2014 and at least 20000 African nationals have died or disappeared during migration worldwide. While these figures are certainly a gross underestimate of the true number of missing migrants in the African context they nonetheless indicate the urgency of addressing this issue. This chapter discusses the far-reaching impacts that these disappearances and deaths have on families and communities on the continent and beyond and urges action on three core areas: prevention of further deaths and disappearances; resolution of cases of missing migrants (including the identification of unknown bodies whose migratory status is undetermined); and support for families directly impacted by these tragedies. With tens of thousands of Africans directly affected by these tragedies across the continent the time for Africa to take the lead on resolving the crisis of missing migrants is now.
Le lien entre migration et développement en afrique
Ce chapitre étudie le lien entre migration et développement en Afrique en remettant en question le récit prédominant selon lequel la migration émane d'un développement défaillant voire qu'elle constitue une entrave au développement dans les pays d'origine et de destination. Cependant les faits montrent que la migration est à la fois le résultat du développement et un moyen de le stimuler. La particularité des migrants est explorée montrant que le développement et un niveau d'éducation plus élevé constituent des facteurs déterminants de la propension d'une personne à migrer ; le niveau de développement ou la richesse personnelle détermine également le pays de destination. Le débat porte sur la manière dont la migration contribue au développement des pays d'accueil et d'origine par l'échange de nouvelles compétences et d’idées. Il s’agit également de comprendre la migration comme stimulant économique. Le chapitre étudie non seulement la contribution des travailleurs migrants pour accroître le développement et créer de l’emploi mais aussi celle des migrants forcés. La conclusion quant à elle établira que le lien entre migration et développement est complexe et varie considérablement et que les conditions et les cadres politiques et juridiques optimaux ne feront que renforcer les apports de la migration au développement.
The digital transformation of Africa and the flow of people and goods
In a period in which many African citizens and migrants are not fully aware of their digital rights and do not have the instruments to understand the complexity of data-driven technology the top-down deployment of new technologies in the African migration policy cycle has caused concerns over the quality of existing regulatory and legal systems as well as worries about the risk of exacerbating persistent forms of marginalization. Against this backdrop this chapter adopts an integrated approach to the study of the relationship between digital infrastructures and the movement of people goods and services from within and to Africa. First it offers an overview of the digital transformation in Africa. Second it studies the movement of people and goods. Based on the best available evidence and in line with key continental and regional policy documents it identifies four policy priorities: strengthening the digital rights of African citizens; fostering cooperation between African countries on the issue of data protection; considering and recognizing that different degrees of digital literacy exacerbate existing hierarchies; and creating a social and cultural ecosystem for the digitalization of basic services.
Foreword
This first-ever Africa Migration Report comes at a momentous period of change on the African continent. Migration as a topic has today taken centre stage in policy discourse in Africa as in much of the rest of the world evidenced by the adoption of two global compacts – Global Compact on Refugees and Global Compact for Safe Orderly and Regular Migration (Global Compact for Migration) – that seek to deal with human mobility more holistically. The chosen theme of this inaugural edition – Challenging the Narrative – could not be more fitting given the myriad misconceptions myths and fears around migration that persist. This report tells the story of African migration from the perspective of Africa and demonstrates the continent’s ardent desire to take control of managing this phenomenon in a manner that maximizes its benefits for the citizens of the continent while also addressing the negative impacts that continued uncontrolled migration imply for African countries and migrants.
Les vulnérabilités inapparentes des enfants migrants africains non accompagnés
Ce chapitre décrit les vulnérabilités et la situation traumatisante des enfants migrants non accompagnés (UMC) en Afrique et explore les cadres mondiaux et continentaux qui permettent de répondre et d’atténuer ces vulnérabilités. Il existe une multitude de raisons qui pousse les enfants y compris les UMC à migrer ou à fuir en Afrique : le commerce transfrontalier ; les liens familiaux ; les conflits ; l'insécurité ; la peur de la persécution ; les violations des droits de l'homme ; les possibilités de travail saisonnier ; ou encore l'accès limité à l'éducation et aux services de santé. Il n'existe pas de données systématiques et harmonisées concernant les UMC en Afrique car le déplacement d'enfants à l'intérieur des pays et au-delà n’est pas suffisamment signalé. Le chapitre relève que les UMC sont susceptibles d'être victimes de maltraitance et d'exploitation sexuelle de travail forcé de détention de violence physique et sexiste. Cette situation est d’autant plus aggravée par le poids de la xénophobie de l'apatridie et de la discrimination résultant des préjugés selon lesquels les migrants sont des criminels et constituent un fardeau social et économique pour les États d'accueil. La Convention relative aux droits de l'enfant (CRC) le Comité africain d'experts sur les droits et le bien-être de l'enfant (ACERWC) la Convention de l'Organisation de l'unité africaine (OUA) régissant les aspects propres aux problèmes des réfugiés en Afrique et la Convention de Kampala offrent une protection aux UMC en plus du droit international des droits de l'homme du droit des réfugiés et du droit humanitaire. Le chapitre conclut toutefois qu'il reste encore beaucoup à faire pour combler l’écart entre les engagements pris et la mise en oeuvre de ces cadres. Les gouvernements doivent : adopter une approche globale à la protection des enfants indépendamment de leur nationalité et de leur statut ; harmoniser les données sur l'ensemble du continent ; et utiliser les forums existants pour défendre les UMC africains.
Migration et commerce en afrique
Le rôle de la zone de libre-échange continentale africaine (ZLECAf) et des cadres de politique migratoire associés quant au lien qui existe entre la migration et le commerce intra-africain est examiné en soulignant les canaux par lesquels la migration intra-africaine stimule le commerce et son potentiel en terme de contribution à la transformation structurelle. Les contraintes et les opportunités en matière de commerce et de migration sont également examinées. La ZLECAf est axée sur la création de richesses et le développement des pays africains et contient également des dispositions spéciales pour la circulation des personnes. Le protocole de la ZLECAf sur le commerce des services reconnaît la présence de personnes physiques qui fournissent des services comme étant l'un de ses moyens pour sa prestation de services ce qui permettrait aux Africains de se déplacer sur les territoires des autres pays pour fournir des services. Le Protocole au traité instituant la Communauté économique africaine relatif à la libre circulation des personnes au droit de résidence et au droit d'établissement complète le protocole de la ZLECAf. Ce chapitre plaide en faveur de la promotion de politiques migratoires favorables au commerce et conclut que la migration intraafricaine a le potentiel de contribuer à la prospérité économique du continent grâce à un commerce intra-africain plus important à une demande accrue de tourisme intrarégional et à des revenus plus importants pour les gouvernements et les régions ainsi qu'à la réduction des écarts de compétences aux niveaux national et régional.
Free movement of persons, informal trade and the African continental free trade area
Nearly 85.8 per cent of Africa’s employed population works in the informal sector. In some countries in sub-Saharan Africa the informal sector accounts for over 90 per cent of employment while informal output is as high as 62 per cent of official GDP. Despite this large size and its contribution to the growth of African economies the sector remains significantly untapped. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can play a significant role in optimizing the benefits of informal trade particularly informal cross-border trade. For this to happen however the AfCFTA would need to be accompanied by the liberalization of the movement of persons across borders through the elimination or at least the reduction of the stringent travel requirements. This chapter analyses how the AfCFTA impacts informal trade particularly informal cross-border trade. It also highlights how the free movement of persons can help Africa maximize the benefits of informal cross-border trade and in the long run integrate the sector into formal structures of trade for sustainable economic growth.
Migration and health
The relationship between migration and health is explored including resilience vulnerability and social determinants of health throughout the migration cycle. The chapter maintains that migration health governance should include the control of communicable diseases health security universal health coverage (UHC) and migration-responsive systems which are all critical to health security public health and development. Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) African Union’s Agenda 2063 Africa Health Strategy and the African Union Migration Policy Framework for Africa World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolutions 61.17 and 70.15 are suggested as implementation frameworks. Great emphasis is placed on research and data inclusive policy and legal frameworks migration-sensitive health systems and partnerships. Furthermore a case is made that international and regional human rights instruments recognize that everyone has the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health irrespective of legal status guarantee equality and embrace non-discrimination. These instruments therefore encompass and protect migrants regardless of their status. It is nevertheless noted that African migrants face barriers in accessing services in already stretched health systems where migration health is considered through the lens of health security and migrants are seen as vectors of disease. The chapter concludes that migration health is critical to effective migration management and must be embedded into health programming goals.
A critical appraisal of labour mobility trends and their impact on regional integration in Africa
This chapter analyses the multifaceted nature and realities of international labour mobility in Africa in the context of regional frameworks regarding such issues as the free movement of persons free trade labour migration and labour market access. Primarily it evaluates the impact of these frameworks on regional integration and sustainable development. It considers gendered perspectives and the underlying drivers of labour migration within and from Africa. Furthermore it explores the current state of migration on the continent as well as selected operational arrangements to facilitate free movement free trade and liberalized labour migration as well as the limitations of such arrangements particularly in addressing skills mismatches and unemployment. Last it underscores critical areas that require concerted attention from policymakers and practitioners to holistically enhance the implementation of free movement regimes and address the highlighted disparities to promote a balanced approach to temporary seasonal and permanent labour mobility from and within Africa.
Migration governance in Africa: Insights from the migration governance indicators data
This chapter examines the implementation of the African Union’s revised Migration Policy Framework for Africa (MPFA) and its eight thematic pillars by conducting a descriptive analysis of national and local data from the IOM Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) for 35 African Union Member States and for the years 2018–2022. The analysis identifies well-established policy areas as well as those with untapped potential for development. Areas that are well developed in some cases with results better than global averages include the adoption of national migration strategy documents and their harmonization with development- gender- and environment-related efforts the establishment of interministerial coordination mechanisms and the creation of emigration- and diaspora-related structures (in line with the MPFA Pillar 1). Areas with the greatest potential for future development include the collection of migration-related questions beyond national censuses (Pillar 1) the improvement of migrants’ access to education and vocational training (Pillar 2) and the inclusion of displacement in national development plans (Pillar 7).
Maximizing human development outcomes of labour migration in Africa
The chapter examines labour migration in Africa in the context of human development and highlights the main labour migration trends its governance and collaboration frameworks governing labour migration in Africa. The five thematic pillars for enhancing labour migration governance are discussed highlighting the following: (a) coherence of existing policies and strengthened capacities; (b) bilateral and regional cooperation; (c) social protection; (d) quality and availability of labour migration data; and (e) skills development matching and recognition. It is noted that though demand for highly skilled workers in sectors such as engineering drives migration across the continent most migrants are concentrated in low-skilled occupations and sectors often characterized by poor working conditions and low wages. The chapter also cites that migrant women are more likely than migrant men to be in vulnerable forms of employment. In response to protection gaps affecting migrant domestic workers several African countries have sought to conclude bilateral labour arrangements with major destination countries to better regulate labour migration flows. Poorly governed labour migration can increase irregular migration perpetuate exploitation and governance challenges for countries of origin transit and destination. The Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) underscore the need for strong labour market institutions and governance with appropriate protection of the rights of migrant workers.
Migration-sensitive health-system planning to support implementation of the African union’s migration policy framework
Health is a cross-cutting issue within the African Union’s Revised Migration Policy Framework for Africa and Plan of Action (2018–2030) (MPFA). As well migration is recognized as being key to development benefiting not only those who move but also countries of origin and of destination. However for these benefits to be achieved migration must be managed in ways that will maintain the health of migrants. To address this migration-sensitive responses to health are needed whereby population mobility is embedded in the design of health-related interventions policy and research with health benefits addresseed at both the individual and population levels. Unfortunately health systems across the continent have largely failed to engage with the realities of migration jeopardizing efforts to effectively implement African Union policies addressing migration and health whilst simultaneously limiting progress towards international health and development goals including universal health coverage (UHC). In this context this chapter outlines two key areas for action to support the development and implementation of effective responses to migration and health: improving governance responses to migration and health; and addressing the social and structural determinants of health. Recommendations include establishing continental and subregional forums to strengthen migration and health governance in ways that are responsive to existing strategic plans including the MPFA.
Migration et sécurité en afrique : Répercussions sur le programme de libre circulation des personnes
Ce chapitre traite du concept de sécurisation des migrations et de son impact sur les politiques migratoires en Afrique ainsi que des obstacles à la réalisation du programme de libre circulation des personnes sur le continent. Par d’ailleurs il reconnait la fragilité de l'environnement sécuritaire de l'Afrique qui est touchée par un large éventail de menaces actuelles et émergentes y compris de menaces non étatiques. Les milices et les groupes armés sont omniprésents dans les guerres civiles du continent luttant à la fois pour et contre les gouvernements africains. Un lien s'est également créé entre les groupes criminels organisés impliqués dans la criminalité transnationale organisée comme le terrorisme les enlèvements la traite des êtres humains le trafic de migrants et la contrebande d'armes. De même la porosité des frontières l'absence de documents de voyage harmonisés le manque de mise en adéquation des politiques des États membres et le manque de capacités et d'infrastructures appropriées pour la gestion des frontières constituent des préoccupations supplémentaires pour les États africains. La sécurisation de la migration se manifeste concrètement par le renforcement du contrôle aux frontières le resserrement des politiques de visa et le profilage de la population. Néanmoins les preuves de l'existence de liens entre migration et sécurité restent essentiellement empiriques. Le chapitre affirme qu'aucune corrélation claire entre la libre circulation des personnes et l'insécurité croissante ne peut être trouvée et indique donc qu'il est important d'apporter des preuves sur les liens entre migration et sécurité afin de réfuter un débat public souvent mal éclairé.
What is wrong with the narrative on African migration?
This chapter lays out the goal of this first-ever Africa Migration Report which is to advance the African migration agenda in the broader development and integration of the continent. Three reasons are identified for the distortions that characterize the current narrative on African migration: (a) most African migrants are not crossing oceans but rather crossing land borders within Africa; (b) 94 per cent of African migration across oceans takes on a regular form; and (c) most global migrants are not African. Africa accounts for 14 per cent of the global migrant population compared for example to 41 per cent from Asia and 24 per cent from Europe. These fortify the need to retell the story that is largely about intra-African migration contrary to the horrific sensationalized impression of irregular migration from Africa through the Mediterranean. This chapter sets the tone for other chapters that follow by emphasizing the need to move past the Western approach and amplify African voices in the migration dialogue by providing answers to the following questions: What would an African approach to mobility look like? With what presumptions would it begin? How would it build on histories of Pan-Africanism and African hospitality? Most importantly what kind of policies would it bring forth?