Expert analyses, op-eds and contributions on African migration dynamics.
To search the whole site, use the header search or search all sections.
The free movement of people has been a recognised right in West Africa for over forty years. However, in public and media debate, people living in a neighbouring country are still often referred to as ‘migrants’ or ‘foreigners’. This lexical confusion undermines regional integration and perpetuates imported clichés. Using the correct terminology therefore becomes an …
Internal mobility, particularly the movement of populations from rural to urban areas, is one of the most striking demographic phenomena of the 21st century. This is particularly evident in Africa, where rapid urbanisation is transforming the social and economic structures of cities. This raises the important question of whether internal migration increases the risk of …
Confusion often arises due to the way non-nationals are perceived in a third country. With the current narrative surrounding migration, non-nationals are not always welcomed. This can be seen in the terms used to refer to them, even when they are students. Every year, thousands of young people cross borders to study in a neighbouring …
At the crossroads of forced displacement and disability, the Sahel harbours a population that neither statistics nor migration policies can fully name. Women migrants with disabilities are rendered invisible three times over by gender, migratory status and disability alike, in a region where conflict, climate crisis and state fragility drive millions from their homes and …
Climate change and forced displacement are converging to create a silent but profound crisis for women and girls in the Sahel. Drawing on Plan International’s A Gathering Storm study, Juli-Collette NSAH and Awa Faly BA examine how environmental shocks and insecurity are deepening menstrual precarity among adolescent girls and young women. With insights from Baltazar …
As Senegal grapples with unprecedented migration challenges, a recent study by the pan-African Afrobarometer network reveals that half of all Senegalese are considering emigrating. The survey portrays a society at a crossroads, caught between the younger generation’s aspiration to seek opportunities abroad and the complex realities of managing migration and hosting foreign nationals at home. …
On 17 December 2025, Senegal reached a historic milestone by organising the first ever National Day of the Senegalese Diaspora. By officially recognising Senegalese citizens abroad as strategic partners in development, the authorities have opened a new era of national co-construction, in which the diaspora’s skills, investments and active citizenship will be key drivers of …
Every year, thousands of young Togolese people finish their studies asking themselves the same question: should they stay in Togo and try their luck in the limited job market, or leave – temporarily or permanently – to seek opportunities abroad? This dilemma has significant consequences for individuals, families, the economy and national development. Togo’s indicators …
Alongside traditional migration routes to Europe and North America, an increasing proportion of African migration today is directed towards so-called ’emerging’ countries, such as China, Turkey, India, Brazil, Malaysia, the Gulf states and certain Latin American countries. These diverse flows, driven by factors such as work, trade, education and entrepreneurship, reflect new economic and political …
In Niger, the food crisis is inextricably linked to the large-scale population displacement caused by insecurity. In the Tillabéry, Diffa and Tahoua regions, recurrent violence has forced thousands of households to abandon cultivated land and livestock, depriving displaced people and host communities of vital resources. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), …
