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African youth are grappling with the crisis on the African continent due to poor governance and not migration, according to a panel chaired by former Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf over the weekend of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation in Abidjan, Cote d Ivoire, which focused on the issue of employment or migration for young Africans.
"I think we are talking about migration today because of the indignation that our youth is dying in the oceans," said Vera Songwe, executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. (CEA), member of the panel.
"I think we should be totally disturbed by the fact that our young people are dying because of bad governance. They do not die because of the oceans, "she added.
African policymakers and business leaders, civil society leaders and Africa 's key international partners are meeting in Abidjan, Côte d' Ivoire, for the Weekend of the governance of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, held annually in a different African city, to discuss issues of importance to Africa.
The three-day event, which ends on Sunday, April 7, is focused in part on the Foundation's report entitled "Youth in Africa: Jobs or Migration?".
Mo Ibrahim, a Sudanese-based business leader turned philanthropist, opened his forum by highlighting one of the key issues of migration, namely the misconception of African migration in Europe.
"Most African migrants remain on the continent. Seventy per cent of sub-Saharan migrants remain in Africa, "said Ibrahim.
According to the report, migrants accounted for only 3.4% of the world's population, with African migration being around 14%, much less than in Asia (4%) or Europe (24%). in 2017.
Songwe, head of ECA, stressed that the African continent receives nine per cent of migrants a year. "The net migration for Africa is therefore five percent. That's not a big number, "she said.
In comparison, the top 10 migration flows from Africa accounted for less than the single flow from Mexico to the United States, according to the report.
Good governance and free exchange
Songwe points to fundamental problems, such as the lack of state-issued IDs preventing people from flourishing and pushing them away.
"We know that 500 million Africans do not have an identity card. The minute you do not have an identity card, you have access to nothing, you do not have access to jobs, you do not have access to care health, you do not have access to inclusion, so you start trying to get out of the continent completely, "she said.
Positive points include the African Union's continental and African free trade zone, an agreement already signed by 49 out of 55 African countries providing for visa-free access, free movement, trade and commerce. elimination of tariffs on 90% of goods. The agreement will enter into force as soon as it has been ratified by 22 countries.
Songwe told the audience in Abidjan that governments needed to examine the reality on the ground, that good governance is essential to talk about migration.
"So when we talk about migration, I really urge not to talk about migration because it's an important discussion for us, we should talk about governance. Let our leaders do not let go in the wrong direction, "she said.
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