Papers

Papers

Expert analyses, op-eds and contributions on African migration dynamics.

To search the whole site, use the header search or search all sections.

When migration, disability and womanhood intersect in the Sahel
Papers

When migration, disability and womanhood intersect in the Sahel

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 Displacement: A Silent Challenge for Women’s and Girls’ Menstrual Hygiene in the Sahel
Papers

Climate Change and Displacement: A Silent Challenge for Women’s and Girls’ Menstrual Hygiene in the Sahel

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 …

Senegal confronts new era of mobility
Papers

Senegal confronts new era of mobility

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. …

Senegalese Diaspora as a global force in national transformation
Papers

Senegalese Diaspora as a global force in national transformation

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 …

Why do more than half of Togolese citizens want to leave their country?
Papers

Why do more than half of Togolese citizens want to leave their country?

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 …

African mobility towards emerging countries, a changing phenomenon
Papers

African mobility towards emerging countries, a changing phenomenon

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 …

Spiralling food crisis among displaced people and host communities in Niger
Papers

Spiralling food crisis among displaced people and host communities in Niger

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), …

COP30 and Migration: rising temperatures, disappearing peoples
Papers

COP30 and Migration: rising temperatures, disappearing peoples

The curtains have closed on COP30 (Conference of Parties of the U.N. Convention on Climate Change) in Belém, Brazil. This once again highlights the paradox that has become almost structural in climate negotiations i.e. discussions focus on emissions, financing, reducing greenhouse gases, adaptation, ecosystem protection, loss and damage, and energy roadmaps, but rarely on human …

Forced return of Nigerien migrants after gold mines closure
Papers

Forced return of Nigerien migrants after gold mines closure

The decision to close several gold mining sites in Mali and forcibly repatriate hundreds of workers from Niger is creating a new human and economic crisis for already vulnerable communities. Beyond the individual trauma, this impending population movement threatens to worsen food insecurity, economic precarity and social tensions in the regions in Niger, already identified …

Lomé adapts to migration and rapid urban growth
Papers

Lomé adapts to migration and rapid urban growth

Lomé, the Togolese capital is changing rapidly. Between 2010 and 2022, the population of the Greater Lomé area increased steadily by around 2.5–3% each year, growing from approximately 1.57 million to over 2.1 million inhabitants. This demographic increase, driven by ongoing rural exodus and internal migration, exerts significant pressure on housing, transportation, sanitation, healthcare and …