Paper short abstract:

This paper advocates that a better way of handling the issues arising from the intricacies of migration dynamics is to a have an inclusive regional outlook. This leads to partnerships through inter-regional cooperation and development of a model framework for an inclusive African Migration Policy.

Paper long abstract:

Regional integration among African countries is the reason for the establishment of several regional blocks in the continent. There are ECOWAS, COMESA, EAC, and SADC among others. However, despite the establishments of these regional blocks, regional integration in Africa still looks more like a mirage. Since a symbiotic relationship exists between migration and regional integration, especially in a continent like Africa, which has often been described as the continent with latent potentials for development, the need for effective migration management as a way of achieving the much envisaged regional integration cannot be over-emphasized. The migration configuration in Africa is fast evolving as it now includes large mobile populations of refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), labour migrants and irregular migrants, which include trafficked and smuggled migrants. Some of the concomitant issues calling for priority attention therefore include forced displacement and human security, management of clandestine migration, management of cross-cutting migration issues, supporting measures for controlling human trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable groups including women and children, fostering partnerships through international cooperation and eventually developing a model framework for an African Migration Policy just like we have in the European Union. This paper therefore proposes some practical steps to ensuring an effective management of migration in the continent. One of such is the need to address migration challenges through regional co-operation mechanisms, which include collaboration, consultation, networking and information sharing among member states. The paper presents other policy relevant suggestions.