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Interregional Workshop on International Migration

Charles A. Kwenin 22-23 Sept. 2011, Geneva

African Migration to Europe, L/A & Caribbean

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Global Outlook for Int’l Migration

Mega-Trends: One billion people on the move at any one time (migrants) 215 mil. crossing int’l borders and 740 mil. moving inside their own countries in search of a better life.

In 2000, 300 mil. people were connected to the internet, Now 2 billion; i.e. 1 in 7 persons on the globe in a migratory

status and 1 in 3 connected to the internet. Feminization: More female migrants as heads of households; Far more internal migrants (S-S) than Int’l migrants (S-N), SSA

Africa: 69% (10 million out of 14.5 million; Ratha and Shaw 2007);

North Africa (and Middle East) 19 % of migration within region; 80 % outward

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Senegal

Côte d’Ivoire

South Africa

DRC

Libya

Nigeria

Cameroon

Gabon

Migration flows in Africa

Migration Flows in Africa

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Côte d’Ivoire

Nigeria

Countries of origin:Mauritania, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Cap-Verde

Senegal

Countries of origin:Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, Burkina-Faso, Ghana

Countries of origin:Ghana, Niger, Chad, Togo, Benin

Main countries of destination and flows in West Africa

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Trends / Patterns - W/ African Migration

`A misconception - all migrants crossing the Sahara are “in transit” to Europe; Est. about 65,000-120,000 SSAns enter Maghreb yearly over land; 20-38% are estimated to enter Europe. (e.g. Libya is an important destination in its own right) Many migrants stay in N/A as a Second best option;

Majority of W/Ans enter Europe legally. Recent total annual increase of registered W/Ans pop. in the EU is about 100,000; whilst total no. of successful irregular crossing is about 25,000-35,000 per year ;(only a fraction of total EU immigration of about 2.6million in 2004);

Despite recent increase, W/A migration to the EU is still relatively modest compared to migration from N/A and E. Europe. Estimated 800,000 registered W/Ans migrants in the main European countries compared to 2,600,000 N. Africans. (Moroccans alone could outnumber all W/Ans in Europe)

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Migrants: regional, extra-regional Sudan: cross roads for East Africans and extra-regional migrants - en route to Libya and Tunisian harbors; Migrants from Gulf of Guinea: Togo, Benin, Ghana and Nigeria, Cameroon) cross Mali and Niger; North toward Niger and Mali, to Libya frontiers, or West through Morocco via Canary Islands and Andalusia to Spain and Europe.

WEST & NORTH AFRICA:

Migration Routes

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Trends / Patterns - W/ African Migration

Migration is generally a conscious choice by relatively well-off individuals and households to enhance their livelihoods. – Vast majority of migrants move on their own initiative;

Migration from W/A to the Maghreb and Europe is likely to continue; increased border controls have rather led to the swift diversion of migration routes with increase in the risks, costs & suffering of migrants

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Arrivals in Lampedusa 2011 (until 20th of September)Total: 52,289

From Tunisia26,354

From Libya25,935

Arrivals in Lampedusa

Other Nationalities: Ghana, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, Nigeria, B-F, Mali, Niger, CDI, Senegal, Gambia, Congo,

Nationalities: Tunisia

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Evacuation from Libya

309,000 TCNs fled Libya over past 7 months

46 Gov’ts requested IOM support.

208,000 TCNs assisted by IOM/UNHCR/Partners via commercial & charter flights, in-kind air assets, land and sea

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West African returnees from Libya

• 221,500 SSA Returnees Assisted

• 200,000 West African Returnees

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EAST AFRICA: Mediterranean Sea Routes – from the shores of Libya and Egypt to Malta, Italy (Lampedusa), Cyprus and Greece

Gulf of Aden Route – from Somalia to Yemen crossing the Gulf of Aden via Bossaso, Puntland.

Red Sea Route – via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal to Italy and Malta. Also through Djibouti to Yemen via Obock.

Southern Africa Route – through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique with destination to South Africa (IOM est. 16-18,000 attempts annually; Ethiopians & Somalis)

Migration Routes

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Major migratory routes relevant to Gulf of Aden Region

Migratoryroutes

Djibouti

Berbera Bossaso

Departure points

Transit centres

Refugee camps

Urban areas

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Mixed Migratory Flows in the HoA

Every year thousands of migrants travel from the Horn of Africa (HoA) across the Gulf of Aden to Yemen and beyond. The no. of crossings /arrivals remain high estimated at 2000 pax. per week despite difficult conditions,

Gulf of Eden Crossing: Yemen Mixed Migration Task Force, Estimates:

• 2006: 22,000 • 2007: 30,000 • 2008: 40, 000 • 2009: 77,802 • 2010: 43,000 (decrease due to tightened Security / patrols) C

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African Migration to L/A & Caribbean

GoTZ/IOM /UNHCR Regional Conference on Refugee Protection & International Migration: Mixed Movements and Irregular Migration from the East and Horn of Africa and Great Lakes Region to Southern Africa; Tanzania, 6-7 Sept. 2010;

Ecuador lifted its visa request for most African and many Asian countries some three years ago, but steady introduction September 2010, after large flows of migrants from Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and some African countries

Ecuador is using two criteria: a) Increase over 2 – 3 consecutive months, the visa requirement is established; b) Immigration officers - request proof of tourist conditions

Both the Regional Conference on Migration (CRM, North/Central America) and the South American Conference on Migration analyzing the issue of extra-continental migration to LAC. IOM is carrying out a study in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador, to be ready by November 2011.

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Advances & Gaps in Inst’l Arrangements

Continental / Regional / National Policies & Programmes: African Union: MPFA, ACP on M & D, Ouaga PoA, Joint EU-

Africa Declaration on M &D; RECs – COMESA, EAC, ECOWAS, ECCAS, IGAD, SADC (RMPFs –

Banjul Dec) / HeSADs EU-Africa Strategic Partnerships; (Mobility, Migration &

Employment – 7th Parternership); Rabat & Tripoli Declaration Migration Data / Migration Profiles; Migration Policies, Capacity Building / Training; ACBC in Moshi Mixed Migration Task Force (MMTF) Yemen, Kenya etc

(IOM,UNHCR, OCHA, DRC, etc); Joint Regional Mtgs IOM / HCR Regional Consultative Processes (RCPs;

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Global RCP Landscape Global RCP Landscape (2010)(2010)

RCPs facilitating info. exchange (data, policies, best practices);

Enhance cooperation among States

Promote inter-regional dialogue/exchange between RCPs;

IOM’s Role: observer, expert and/or technical secretariat

RCPs facilitating info. exchange (data, policies, best practices);

Enhance cooperation among States

Promote inter-regional dialogue/exchange between RCPs;

IOM’s Role: observer, expert and/or technical secretariat

15 major RCPs (all regions except Caribbean and Central Africa

142 States participate in RCPs

15 major RCPs (all regions except Caribbean and Central Africa

142 States participate in RCPs

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Conclusion

Migration is humanities’ oldest action against poverty – the powerful manifestation of an individual’s desire for development, dignity and a decent life – even if it means doing the dirty, difficult and dangerous jobs -- jobs that domestic workforces often shun.

Countries often pride themselves publicly on being a “migrant society” or a “nation of migrants.” Sadly, all too often, these are referrals to yesterday’s migrants – not to those arriving on our shores or on our borders today.

Given the global demographic and labour market trends, widening North-South disparities, large scale migration is both INEVITABLE, UNAVOIDABLE !! and if well and humanely managed -- also DESIRABLE AND NECESSARY.

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Thank You

Promote Safe Migration and Positive