Expert analyses, op-eds and contributions on African migration dynamics.
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The sinking of a boat off the coast of Djibouti, which claimed the lives of at least 139 people in October 2026, highlights the dangers of a migratory route taken each year by tens of thousands of people from the Horn of Africa. Behind these perilous crossings are hopes of finding work, economic hardship and …
A seemingly ordinary video has sparked reactions on social media and is being widely shared. It quickly went viral. But beyond its circulation, it is the way the story is being presented that raises questions. The footage prompts an important question: what message does it convey at a time when awareness campaigns are seeking to …
Without recognised citizenship, people in West Africa live in a legal limbo that can make it challenging to access education, healthcare, employment and travel documents. In Côte d’Ivoire, estimates from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) give an indication of the scale of the problem. In light of this reality, civil registration, nationality …
Why might two people, leaving the same country, with similar resources, experience very different migration journeys? The answer lies, in particular, in gender. Gender influences the reasons for leaving, access to information, migration routes, risks involved in the journey, available employment opportunities, family relationships and avenues for integration. Understanding migration therefore requires looking not only …
Globalization has profoundly altered the way people work, study, consume, communicate and travel. The internet now makes it easier to find out about job opportunities thousands of kilometres away; social media brings diasporas closer to their communities of origin; improved transport facilitates international travel; and economic exchanges are forging ever-closer links between regions. Against this …
Every presidential election comes with its recurring theme. For Éric Zemmour, it’s always the anti-immigrant mantra, sounding like a broken record, “foreigners are not welcome”. With the 2027 election approaching, here he comes again, with a new idea that’s hardly a matter for laughter: “robots instead of immigrants.” The formula is chilling. If it were …
dvances in women’s rights are widely celebrated on International Women’s Day, observed every 8 March. However, the experiences of migrant women are still not adequately reflected in public policies and protection programs. Migration cannot be addressed without taking into consideration the specific needs of women. “Protecting a migrant woman is protecting humanity on the move.” …
Every year, many young Togolese leave the country to further their higher education abroad. France, Canada, the United States, Germany, Belgium, Morocco and some African countries attract some of these young people in search of training, experience and new opportunities. At the outset, the plan often seems clearly defined: to go abroad and study, obtain …
Inflatable dinghies, Mediterranean crossings, shipwrecks and images of rescued migrants: these scenes feature disproportionately in European perceptions of African migration. Yet international data paint a far more complex picture. The majority of African migrants remain on the continent, whilst most of those forced to flee do not even cross an international border. In the European …
The claim that women make up 47% of international migrants in Senegal is often held up as proof that migration is becoming more female. It deserves a closer look. Behind this figure, which people repeat without context, lies a more complex reality shaped by global forces and stubborn inequalities. On 3 March, UN Women Senegal …