Paper short abstract:

This paper discusses the regional policy developments in the EAC with regard to migration, but in the wider context of the ‘migration-development nexus’, as well as human security. It analyses the Regional Consultative Process (RCP) on Migration mechanism, established in Kigali in February 2022.

Paper long abstract:

This paper discusses the regional policy developments in the East African Community (EAC) with regard to migration, but in the wider context of the ‘migration-development nexus’, as well as in light of the complex issue of human security. It analyses the Regional Consultative Process (RCP) on Migration mechanism that was established in Kigali, in February 2022. The RCP is planned to address migration and migration-related issues in a holistic manner, which may be exemplary not only for this macro region of the African continent, but also in a more global sense.

The research questions cover the following: What are the reasons to launch the RCP? How much and in what ways are the major dimensions of this new process intertwined, i.e. how can the RCP deal with labour market dynamics, security concerns, as well as environment-induced mobilities at the same time? What are the roles of the members states and the EAC as a regional economic community as a whole in reducing irregularities, while fostering regular and legal migration within the region for the development of the entire community in the longer run? In particular, what is the position of landlocked Rwanda amidst all the regionalization aspirations of the EAC?

The paper can shed light on the recent developments of the regional policy framework and the concerted efforts of the member states of one of Africa’s most dynamically evolving regional integrative frameworks, therefore, can broaden the knowledge corpus on African migrations with a regional perspective from within the African context.