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| | | Title | THE MEDITERRANEAN MIGRANT CRISIS: ROOT CAUSES AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE AFRICAN CONTINENT, Knowledge Brief No. 9 | | Author | African Community of Practice on Management for Development result at the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) | | Subject | Migration | | Publisher | African Community of Practice on Management for Development result at the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) | | Number of Pages | 7 pages | | Language | English | | Geographical Coverage | Africa | | Keywords | MEDITERRANEAN MIGRANT CRISIS, AFRICA AND MEDITERRANEAN MIGRANT CRISIS, African Outmigration | | Abstract | Recently, tens of thousands of Africans have lost their lives to migration, trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe. Six of the ten most contributing countries to migrants into the European Union (EU) in 2014 were from Africa, with at least 96,623 migrants. Globally, more than 500,000 people reached the EU by end of September 2015, with many originating from Africa. Overall, the Mediterranean Sea Migrant Crisis claimed the lives of 5,820 people between 2014 and 2015. From 2000 to 2014, at least 22,000 migrants died fleeing their countries for various destinations for better livelihoods across the globe. The far-reaching negative implication of this crisis for Africa has moved the Africa Community of Practice on Managing for Development Results (AfCoP/MfDR) to organize an online discussion among its members with the objective of generating knowledge that will stimulate positive actions to tackle the problem. The following are key messages from the discussion: The migrants in the current crisis are mostly refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Eritrea, Sudan, and Somalia, fleeing wars fought in these countries. Other refugee-originating countries, where wars are fought in some regions are Nigeria, relating to Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east; and Pakistan, relating to the war in the north-west. Key root causes of outmigration are : 1) poverty and unemployment; 2) repressive, persecuting and unaccountable political regimes, 3) perpetrating human rights abuses; and 4) lack of political will to overcome migration problems. The implications to Africa include short-term effects like community instability; disruption of local enterprises; sudden loss of critical skills; possible outflows of capital; and poor international image. Long-term effects include possible permanent brain drain; further entrenching of repressive or ailing regimes; lack of confidence and or undermining of national will to address internal challenges; reduced prospects for attracting foreign investments and even tourism. The discussion noted some efforts by African institutions to stem the illegal migration such as the March 2015 Kigali’s Roundtable on intra-regional migration and labor mobility within Africa. It was concluded that, the recent Mediterranean Sea migration is caused by many dimensions and it has negative implications to Africa’s growth. It hence recommended an increased political will among African leaders and organisations for fighting illiteracy and reducing poverty and unemployment especially for youth. The AfCoP members calls upon African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) and partners to forge cooperation and networks with existing actors; initiate joint ventures; encourage debate on the concept of the African Citizen and Sustainable Development; and heighten the results advocacy in the areas of effective leadership, accountability and partnership. Private sector participation is critical to the creation of jobs and wealth especially for youth, and must be encouraged. Organizations like ACBF should increase support and capacity building to African states and actors in developing specific programs to strengthen youth capacities in having access to decent jobs and also developing self-employment. | | Copyright Holder | African Community of Practice (AfCoP) | | Copyright URL | http://afrik4r.org/ | | Filesize | 770251 MB | | File Format | PDF | | [ View / download original document ] |
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