Lopes urges Africa to address migration issue

Finding the right policies and process to transform migration into a win-win situation is the challenge ahead for African Union leaders‚ says Carlos Lopes‚ Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa.

“Let us see migration in the larger context of mobility and let’s contextualise this human phenomena so we can construct the solutions for the future‚” he urged leaders at the African Union Executive Council and Head of States Summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

Saying Africa had the world’s youngest population‚ Lopes posited: “Between now and 2050 Africa will double its population. Even if it grows economically as fast‚ or faster than it is doing right now‚ Africa is likely to generate a much bigger flow of young Africans looking for opportunities in an ageing Europe.”

 Current migration patterns tended to conjure up images of Africans and Asians crossing the Mediterranean Sea‚ seeking a future in secure Europe. However this image was not the entire story‚ he pointed out.

 “African countries receive a lot more migrants than the continent exports abroad. In fact the bulk of Africans looking for opportunities outside their countries go to another African country. Less than 2-million seek a destination abroad every year‚ which is a tiny number in relation to migrant stocks‚ particularly in Europe.”

 Since migration was an inevitable part of the human experience‚ it was therefore crucial for Africa to address it with effective policies. Those who saw their neighbour with means and hope they did not have‚ ventured out‚ Lopes stated.

“Migration has the potential of bringing significant contribution to the economic growth and human development in Africa if it is tackled in a holistic manner and mainstreamed appropriately in development planning and strategies‚” he maintained.

“Let us not forget Africans need visas to travel to 55% of other African countries. Free movement on the continent would entail the implementation of continent-wide visa free regimes including issuance of visas at ports of entry for Africans.”

 Migration could play a role in boosting economic growth. However‚ African leaders needed to tackle the issue comprehensively if it was to work for the continent‚ declared Lopes.

 He asserted “there is a need for coherence and coordination of policies and actions on migration and development in Africa” because “free movement of people and labour mobility are recognised as important enablers for the regional integration and economic development of the continent”.

Africa’s youthfulness would keep growing when the rest of the world would be aging.

 “There is a vital role of migration in regional integration‚ and of cooperation‚ policy dialogue and partnership with all stakeholders – countries of destination and development partners; private sector‚ including diaspora entrepreneurs and investors; civil society‚ including migrants and Diasporas – in making migration work for development transformation and regional integration‚” concluded Lopes.