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Contents
Abstract............................................................................................................................................ii
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Africa-Europe Relations in the Age of Increased Migration and Globalization..........................2
Migration Contestations and Transformation..............................................................................3
Migration and Misrepresented Views and Actors in Conventional Migration Discourses.........3
References........................................................................................................................................4
i
Abstract
Africans migrating within the continent increased from 16 million to around 19 million,
but those migrating out of Africa increased from 16 million to 17 million (McAuliffe and
Kitimbo 2018).
The consolidation and expansion of the European Union (EU) regime of free movement
facilitated the increased mobility within the region (Santacreu et al. 2009).
The European attempts to “secure” or “protect” borders have undoubtedly failed, largely
because migration is often seen as a border security issue—as something that needs to be
combatted (Laine 2018a).
Europe has always been a popular destination for migrants; recently, however, new
waves of immigration have occurred, the most discernible of which has been the great
number of refugee and asylum seeker arrivals from North and Central Africa, Middle
East and beyond.
The AU seeks to establish an African Economic Community (AEC) by 2028 through the
1991 Abuja Treaty for the Establishment of the African Economic Community (Abuja
Treaty).Africa-Europe migration relations and governance has undergone a significant
shift, especially since the so-called 2015 migration crisis
In particular, Africa is characterized by extensive interactions across its artificial and

contiguous borders and borderlands, just as there are notable flows of migration from
Africa to Europe.
ii
Introduction
The various processes of globalization, together with the related increase in migration
flows, have created growing concerns about the rights of people who are either
temporarily or permanently absent from their home country. Both globally and in Europe
as well as in Africa, most migration is intra-continental.
The consolidation and expansion of the European Union (EU) regime of free movement
facilitated the increased mobility within the region (Santacreu et al. 2009).
Africans migrating within the continent increased from 16 million to around 19 million,
but those migrating out of Africa increased from 16 million to 17 million (McAuliffe and
Kitimbo 2018).
Europe has always been a popular destination for migrants; recently, however, new
waves of immigration have occurred, the most discernible of which has been the great
number of refugee and asylum seeker arrivals from North and Central Africa, Middle
East and beyond. The European attempts to “secure” or “protect” borders have
undoubtedly failed, largely because migration is often seen as a border security issue—as
something that needs to be combatted (Laine 2018a).
In this view borders tend to be depicted as protective, yet vulnerable walls safeguarding
the inside from a perceived threat from outside.
The outcome of the investigation should then help both sides, whose relationship has a
long history, to appreciate each other’s views as well as work out mutually acceptable
and beneficial solutions to the challenges that migration presents.
In the final analysis, the chapters in this book bring in different perspectives to the
analysis of migration within the broader context of relations within and between Africa
and Europe. The analysis goes beyond merely demonstrating the development potential
of migration and the contribution of actors involved therein.
1
Migration, Regions and Development in Africa
The AU seeks to establish an African Economic Community (AEC) by 2028 through the 1991
Abuja Treaty for the Establishment of the African Economic Community (Abuja Treaty)
The AU realizes that migration contributes to development and defines its approach to the issues
through two key policy frameworks.
The first, the Migration Policy Framework for Africa (MPFA), addresses nine key
migration issues: labor migration, border management, irregular migration, forced displacement,
the human rights of migrants, internal migration, migration data, migration and development, and
interstate cooperation and partnerships (African Union (AU) 2006a).
The second, the African Common Position on Migration and Development (ACPMD) raises
eleven priority policy issues and recommendations for national, continental and international
action. These include Migration and Development, Human resource and the brain drain, Labor
migration, Remittances, African Diaspora, Migration and Peace, Security and Stability,
Migration and Human Rights, Migration and Gender, Children and Youth, Elderly and Regional
Initiatives (African Union (AU) 2006b).
Africa-Europe Relations in the Age of Increased Migration and Globalization

Africa-Europe migration relations and governance have undergone a significant shift, especially
since the so-called 2015 migration crisis (Chap. 4), and this has led to cooperation regimes and
programs which emphasis more the restrictions of migration from Africa to Europe (Chaps. 4, 5
and 7)
The hardening and securitizations of borders against migrants from Africa demonstrates the
contradictions of globalization and, indeed, a changing world order. So pronounced is the
insincerity in dealing with the issue of migration that the hardening and securitizations of the EU
borders have been likened to construction of the EU as a gated community (McCall 2015; van
Houtum and Pijpers 2007).
This counter-narrative should be based on and consider the interests of both Africa and Europe
(Chaps. 4 and 5) and provides a balanced perspective on both the challenges related to and
opportunities provided by the ever-increasing migration flows.
2
Migration Contestations and Transformation
While there is increased migration within Europe, as well as within the African continent, there
is a contention around the volume of migration from the latter to the former. That people migrate
from Africa to Europe is a fact, but what are fanciful or fictitious are the numbers and volumes
of migrants making such movements (Essa 2018; Nshimbi 2017; Nshimbi and Moyo 2016a).
In addition to this, the major problem is that these numbers of people who migrate to Europe are
misrepresented in a manner which ignores that Africans migrate more within Africa than they do
to other regions such as Europe (Essa 2018; Nshimbi 2017).
In particular, Africa is characterized by extensive interactions across its artificial and contiguous
borders and borderlands, just as there are notable flows of migration from Africa to Europe.
Several questions arise, such as inter alia: How should these fluxes be managed to promote
socio-economic transformation and development in Africa? What lessons can be gleaned from
the experiences of the EU? This should be viewed within the context that the changing global
order is characterized by, among others, moves towards regionalism and regional integration.
Migration and Misrepresented Views and Actors in Conventional

Migration Discourses
To respond to the question of managing migration for development and socio-economic

transformation, some chapters (see e.g. Chaps. 3, 4, 5 and 7) in this volume juxtapose discourses
on migration with mis- and underrepresented themes and phenomena in academic literature as
well as in the political and public debates whenever they engage with the broader themes of
migration and development.
In the final analysis, the chapters in this book bring in different perspectives to the analysis of
migration within the broader context of relations within and between Africa and Europe. The
analysis goes beyond merely demonstrating the development potential of migration and the
contribution of actors involved therein. Also, the book adopts a different epistemological and
ontological slant from approaches generally adopted in books of a similar nature, by asserting
that migrants and migration are as important factors as others in development agendas.
3
References
Abuja Treaty establishing the African Economic Community (AEC).1991.https://pmg.org.za/co
mmittee-meeting/243/.Accessed 19 Mar 2017.
African Union (AU). 2006a. the migration policy framework for Africa. Executive Council,
Ninth Ordinary Session, Banju, 25–29 June 2006.———.2006b.African common
position on migration and development. Executive Council, Ninth Ordinary Session,
Banjul, 25–29 June 2006.
Nshimbi, C.C., and I. Moyo. 2016a. Visible and invisible bordering practices: The EU-African
migration conundrum and spatial mobility of borders. World Journal of Science,
Technology and Sustainable Development 13 (4): 300–314.
McCall, C. 2015. State borders in Europe. In Introduction to border studies, ed. S. V.
Sevastianov, J. P. Laine, and A. Kireev, 180–197. Vladivostok: Dalnauka.
Laine, J. 2018a. The ethics of bordering: A critical reading of the refugee ‘crisis. In How to deal
with refugees? Europe as a continent of dreams, ed. G. Besier and K. Stoklosa, 278–301.
Berlin: LIT Verlag.

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Contents

In particular, Africa is characterized by extensive interactions across its artificial and

Africa-Europe Relations in the Age of Increased Migration and Globalization

Migration and Misrepresented Views and Actors in Conventional

To respond to the question of managing migration for development and socio-economic

mmittee-meeting/243/.Accessed 19 Mar 2017.

Ninth Ordinary Session, Banju, 25–29 June 2006.———.2006b.African common

position on migration and development. Executive Council, Ninth Ordinary Session,

Banjul, 25–29 June 2006.

migration conundrum and spatial mobility of borders. World Journal of Science,

Technology and Sustainable Development 13 (4): 300–314.

McCall, C. 2015. State borders in Europe. In Introduction to border studies, ed. S. V.

Sevastianov, J. P. Laine, and A. Kireev, 180–197. Vladivostok: Dalnauka.

Berlin: LIT Verlag.

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