MIGRATION GOVERNANCE: PERSPECTIVES FROM THE CONTINENT

It is with great honour that I join you at the 2025 Metropolis International Migration Network Summit — a crucial platform for reflection, dialogue and global cooperation on one of the defining issues of our time: migration governance.

I bring you warm greetings from the African Union Commission and express our sincere appreciation for the invitation to lend our voice to this matter of critical importance to the future of the African continent.  My assignment here, this morning, is to speak to the topic — Migration Governance: Perspectives from the African Continent.

It is my considered view that in a world increasingly shaped by the movement of people and the exchange of thought, platforms such as this serve as vital spaces for reflection, dialogue and the co-creation of solutions that encapsulate our shared humanity.

As Kofi Annan, the former UN Sec. Gen. once remarked, “Migration is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be managed.” In this spirit, I dare to proclaim that the deliberations at this Summit should seek not only to understand the movement of people, but to illuminate the deeper currents of humanity, justice and shared destiny that flow beneath it.

This speech addresses the following:

The Historical perspective on Migration; Migration, Human Mobility and Development;  Migration Governance; Labour Migration, Free Movement of Persons and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA); Migration, Displacement and Humanitarian Scenarios; Challenges; What next? and ends with a Conclusion.

Historical perspective on Migration

Migration is an ancient aspect of human history, deeply interwoven with the evolution of societies, economies, kingdoms and political structures. From a geopolitical perspective, migration has historically been a tool and a target of State power, revealing the intricate relationships between nations. Ancient empires expanded through migration, colonising new territories and establishing trade routes. Compelling example is how the Roman Empire expanded through migration, colonisation and trade, particularly its expansion across Europe, North Africa and the Near East.

When we come to Africa, migration has been an enduring part of our story — shaping our histories, economies, cultures and societies. Today, as we confront a world defined by rapid change — whether due to climate, conflict, economic disparity or technological transformation — migration remains both a profound challenge and an immense opportunity.

Migration is not a crisis in Africa. As stated above, it is a centuries-old reality, a driver of resilience, innovation and regional integration. From pastoralist communities crossing borders in search of grazing lands, to young entrepreneurs forging transnational networks, mobility is woven into the fabric of African societies.

The debates surrounding border control, humanitarian interventions and the securitisation of migration underscore how States leverage or are challenged by migratory flows to assert sovereignty, manage resources and project influence. This is more pronounced and well documented in the trajectory of migration from Europe to Africa and vice versa. An illustration of the dynamics of border control, humanitarian intervention and sovereignty in the context of migration is the European Union's response to the Mediterranean increased migration. Since 2015 the EU and its Member States have increasingly externalised border control by partnering with AU Member States within the North Africa region, including Egypt, Libya Mauritania and Tunisia. These partnerships involve funding and support for local authorities to intercept migrants before they reach Europe, effectively outsourcing border enforcement. Externalisation of boarders contravenes International Migration Law and African Union has condemned it in the strongest possible terms. 

Be that as it may, Migration in Africa is diverse, predominantly intra-continental, and often driven by opportunity, tradition, adaptation and resilience. Contrary to prevailing narratives, most African migrants do not cross oceans or borders into the Global North but rather move within the continent — from rural to urban areas, between neighbouring states, or across regional economic corridors. The research on migration underscores that the 80% intra-Africa migration far outweighs External migration, which is 20% only.  

Migration, Human Mobility and Development

Far from being a contemporary phenomenon, Migration is an ancient and enduring aspect of human history, deeply fused with the evolution of societies and economies. Therefore, viewing migration as a microcosm of geopolitical and development discourse highlights its capacity to reflect the complex interplay of power dynamics, structural economic disparities and social transformations on a global scale.

Literature attesting to the recognition of the growing importance of migration and mobility as critical enablers of development abounds. Congruently, migration is a fundamental component of the development discourse, acting as both a driver and a symptom of developmental progress and failures. Furthermore, migration and mobility, as critical enablers of development, have contributed significantly to economic growth of nations, providing labour for emerging industries and facilitating the transfer of knowledge and remittances.

It is against this backdrop that African diaspora is increasingly recognised as a vital stakeholder in the continent’s development. Through remittances, investments, skills transfer and advocacy, diaspora communities contribute significantly to economic growth, innovation and social development.

Allow me to point out the convergence between migration and diaspora engagement in the context of AU 2025 theme of the year. The AU aims to unite Africa and its diaspora through a common position on reparations. This includes:

• Deepening collaboration with diaspora communities for stronger global advocacy, including leveraging remittances for development of Africa;
• Engaging diaspora organisations in strategic dialogues and initiatives that promote reparatory justice and racial healing; and
• Enhancing partnerships with regions like CARICOM to build a united front for reparations and justice.

Migration Governance

Migration governance in Africa presents a comprehensive yet complex landscape. These include fragmented policy frameworks, limited institutional capacity and external narratives that often overshadow African priorities. Too often, migration is framed through the lens of risk rather than opportunity.

Although complex, the African Union has taken decisive steps to shift this paradigm. Our Migration Policy Framework for Africa (MPFA), including the Global Compact for Migration (GCM), are cornerstones of a continental vision rooted in dignity, development and shared prosperity. They stand as pivotal documents to drive migration as a developmental issue and predicated on strong emphasis of aligning continental migration governance with Agenda 2063, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and international human rights jurisprudence.  Thereby, establishing a rights-based approach to mobility across the continent, through to other parts of the world.

The African development blueprint, Agenda 2063, recognises migration to be a development enabler and a pathway to improving sustainable livelihoods on the continent. There is notable increasing attention being devoted to Africa’s Migration Governance and a heightened recognition of the need to ensure that migration policies are not only responsive to emerging challenges but also grounded in principles of safe, regular, orderly and dignified migration.

Together, the instruments mentioned above are rooted in rights, development, integration and continental solidarity.

Migration, Labour Migration and Free Movement of Persons and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

The AU Protocol on Free Movement of Persons is deeply embedded in our development and integration agenda. The AU’s central mission is regional economic integration, which is viewed as a key pathway for the development of Africa. 

Intra-African migration supports regional integration by enhancing labour mobility, trade and cultural exchange. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) complements this by facilitating movement and economic collaboration across borders. Trilateral Cooperation between Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda provides good example. Efforts to promote regional connectivity and human mobility is facilitated through standardising travel documents, including national IDs and visa-free travel for citizens of East Africa Community Member States. Similar arrangements have also been undertaken between Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and other members of the Southern African region. This is a progressive step towards labour migration and the realisation of free movement of people.

Several AU Member States have adopted national migration policies, enhanced diaspora engagement and improved mechanisms for refugee protection and returnees' reintegration. Furthermore, there is growing investment in migration data systems, with support from the African Union Institute for Statistics and collaboration with the UN Statistical Division and IOM.

We are also working with Regional Economic Communities to harmonise mobility regimes, and with Member States to strengthen data systems, protect migrant rights and combat trafficking.

Migration, Displacement and Humanitarian scenarios

The AU recognises the escalating burden of forced displacement across the continent, driven by conflicts, terrorism, unconstitutional changes of government and climate-induced natural disasters. The AU has shown remarkable Pan-African solidarity in supporting refugees, asylum seekers, returnees, stateless persons and internally displaced populations through the establishment of the African Humanitarian Agency (AfHA), which aims to implement preventive, responsive and mitigative mechanisms to address humanitarian crises while pursuing sustainable solutions to forced displacement across the continent.

Challenges

I am the first to admit that our ambitions are not without obstacles.  I will mention a few here:

• Policy fragmentation and weak enforcement continue to undermine regional migration commitments;
• Climate change, conflict, inequality and I must add, bad governance, are intensifying displacement and irregular migration across fragile zones — from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa;
• Migrant protection gaps, especially for women, youth and irregular migrants, persist;
• External influence, particularly through migration control agendas tied to funding, often skews priorities toward containment rather than empowerment; and
• Despite commitments, the AU Free Movement Protocol has seen very slow ratification, limiting its transformative potential. Though 34 Member States have signed the FMP since its adoption by the Assembly in January 2018, only 4 of them have ratified.

We must and are working to address these gaps decisively, collaboratively and with urgency.

What next?

Going forward, the African Union calls for a renewed global and continental migration compact. The conversation must be centred around the following principles:

• Mobility as Development: Migration must be positioned as a tool for economic growth, resilience and innovation, not as a risk to be managed;
• Human Rights at the Core: Every migrant, regardless of status, deserves dignity, protection and access to justice and opportunity;
• Regional Leadership and Ownership: Migration governance in Africa must be led by Africans, reflecting local realities, capacities and aspirations;
• Evidence-Based Policymaking: Better data, forecasting tools and research collaboration are needed to plan migration more strategically; and
• Global Solidarity, Not Conditionality: Partnerships must be rooted in mutual respect and shared responsibility, not in deterrence, containment, or transnationalism.

Conclusion

Finally, the spotlight on global frameworks on Migration Governance has never been more pronounced. The comprehensive migration governance architecture is a testament to the philosophy of the African Union that migration is a developmental issue.

Migration governance is not only about policies, but also about people. It is about the young woman in Dakar, Senegal, seeking opportunity in Abidjan, La Cote D’Ivoire, the refugee rebuilding his life in Kampala, Uganda and the diaspora communities investing in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Their voices must shape our frameworks. Their agency must be recognised.

The global cooperation on migration to harness shared responsibility and global solidarity for common goal has never been more compelling. Africa has recognised that it is incumbent upon leadership globally and continentally, to redouble efforts to develop policies and practice that promote safeguarding the rights and well-being of migrants, irrespective of their status and location. Africa stands ready to be part of a new migration narrative, one that is pan-African in vision, global in responsibility and humane in its essence.

We call on our global partners to support African-led solutions. To invest in mobility as a development enabler. To respect the sovereignty of African States in setting migration agendas. And to move beyond containment toward cooperation.

This will harness the full potential of migration as a force for positive change, driving sustainable and inclusive development towards the achievement of the SDGs and Agenda 2063 “The Africa We Want”.

I thank you all.