Expert analyses, op-eds and contributions on African migration dynamics.
34papers
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. …
Mamadou Diop 3 min
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 …
Ndiémé Faye 7 min
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 …
Koffi Dzakpata 5 min
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 …
Koffi Dzakpata 5 min
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), …
Youssouf Abdoulaye Haidara 5 min
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 …
Ndiémé Faye 7 min
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 …
Youssouf Abdoulaye Haidara 4 min
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 …
Koffi Dzakpata 5 min
In Togolese and West African public debate, terms such as ‘migrant’, ‘refugee’, ‘displaced person’ and ‘mobile person’ are often misused, leading to confusion. Yet these terms refer to very different legal, social and human realities. The following text clarifies these concepts by combining international definitions with the Togolese context. Mobile person: A mobile person is …
Koffi Dzakpata 4 min
As the saying goes: “the world has been populated by migration”. However, migration flows are not uniform; some countries are better known as countries of departure, some as destination or host countries and some as both. What about Togo? This small West African nation, which borders the Atlantic Ocean and is part of the Lagos-Abidjan …
Koffi Dzakpata 4 min