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Issues and Recent Trends in International Migration in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Author(s) -
Adepoju Aderanti
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
international social science journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.237
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1468-2451
pISSN - 0020-8701
DOI - 10.1111/1468-2451.00267
Subject(s) - refugee , human migration , immigration , development economics , unemployment , frontier , diversification (marketing strategy) , population , politics , internal migration , poverty , destinations , emigration , political science , freedom of movement , political instability , geography , economic growth , demographic economics , developing country , economics , business , sociology , demography , tourism , marketing , law
Migration in Sub‐Saharan Africa features a variety of movements, mostly intraregional: migrant workers, undocumented migrants, nomads, frontier workers, refugees, and highly skilled professionals. Changing patterns and especially the increase in irregular migration, diversification of migratory routes and trafficking in migrants result from worsening socio‐economic and political conditions in the region. Sponsored, selective male migration and increasing female autonomous migration are manifestations of migration as survival strategies. Brain circulation within the region, especially to core areas of rapid economic growth, has intensified; increasingly, labour migration is being replaced by commercial migration. Migrants are also exploring alternative destinations within the region in response to the tightened immigration laws in the North. Rapid population growth, economic depression, conflicts, political instability, widespread poverty and deepening unemployment signal the possibility of increased migration, including refugee flows, in the coming years. Sub‐regional economic unions could help promote intra‐regional labour mobility if concerted efforts are made to harmonise national laws with regionaland sub‐regional treaties.