Discussing African migration at the Potsdam Spring Dialogues

African migration is often perceived as massive, increasing and mainly directed toward Europe. Speakers at this year’s Potsdam Spring Dialogues, however, reminded the audience that African migration is first and foremost intra-continental. Dr. C. Nshimbi, Deputy Director of the Centre for the Study of Governance in Pretoria, pointed out the fact that “75% of all sub-Saharan African migrants settle in another African country”.

Organised by the Development and Peace Foundation (sef:), the Dialogues focused on the importance of migration governance for the continent’s development, in particular through the promotion of regional mobility. “The ambition for an African passport in 2018 might be too optimistic, but Regional Economic Communities might take up the idea and be faster”, Mr. G. Faal, Interim Executive Director of the Africa-Europe Diaspora Development Platform (ADEPT) said.

Sophie Ngo-Diep, MADE Regional Network Developer and Funding Coordinator was invited to speak in the panel on cooperative migration policy between Africa and the EU. She highlighted the main concerns of African and European civil society, based on last year’s joint recommendations for the Valletta Summit, and called on African and European leaders to work as equal partners and acknowledge the benefits that migration and mobility can bring to both continents. “African and European leaders must not give way to the temptation of focusing on short-term responses only but instead, should offer alternatives to irregular migration.”

Find detailed information in the conference report