The complexities of migration: A call for responsible governance in Africa

Migration has become one of the most complex and emotive public issues facing countries around the world. While governments and societies recognise the importance of discussing migration, many remain cautious about the language they use for fear of inflaming tensions or provoking divisions.

In recent weeks, the world has witnessed several incidents that underscore the growing sensitivity surrounding migration. South Africa experienced anti-migrant protests as citizens took to the streets, while in Northern Ireland, tensions in Belfast intensified following the circulation of a video showing a Sudanese man allegedly stabbing another person.

Last month, the eastern Libyan government also announced a ban on the entry of nationals from four African countries: Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia.

These incidents illustrate that migration is no longer a challenge confined to a handful of countries. It has become a global issue that affects nations across different regions, each grappling with its own political, social and economic pressures.

In South Africa, the migration debate is being shaped largely by the approaching and highly contested local government elections. Political parties have been cautious in how they articulate their positions on migration, mindful of the potential electoral consequences of alienating either supporters or opponents of stricter immigration policies.

ActionSA appears to be the only party represented in Parliament that has openly endorsed and supported the recent anti-immigration marches.

By contrast, the Patriotic Alliance (PA), which built much of its political identity on a hardline stance against illegal immigration, has moderated its rhetoric since becoming part of the governing coalition.

Migration is a critical issue that deserves serious attention and discussion at every level of political leadership across the African continent. It is the responsibility of governments to explain and address the underlying factors driving migration. To what extent are these challenges a consequence of governance failures, and what concrete measures are governments taking to resolve them?

There is an urgent need for every African state to function effectively by creating economic opportunities, strengthening public institutions, and improving service delivery. By addressing the root causes that compel people to leave their home countries, governments can reduce unnecessary migration and provide the continent's growing youth population with meaningful prospects at home.

If we are to address migration effectively, we must first understand the complexities and dynamics of human movement. Migration is one of humanity's oldest phenomena, practised throughout history in the pursuit of survival.

Today, people continue to migrate for much the same reasons—whether to seek refuge from conflict and persecution, pursue economic opportunities, or escape other circumstances that threaten their wellbeing.

It is also important to recognise that the majority of displacement in Africa occurs within national borders rather than across them. More people on the continent are classified as internally displaced persons (IDPs) than migrate to Europe, the Gulf states, or even neighbouring African countries.

According to the UN Refugee Agency, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has approximately 6.9 million internally displaced people, with about 5 million concentrated in North Kivu. These figures demonstrate that most people do not immediately seek to leave their countries. Instead, they initially move to safer areas within their own borders, hoping that conditions will improve. Crossing international borders often becomes a last resort when they lose hope that the situation at home will stabilise.

Although South Africa's foreign-born population has steadily increased over the years as people seek stability, economic opportunities and safety, some activists and politicians have exaggerated the numbers in an attempt to inflame public sentiment and agitate the masses.

According to Statistics South Africa, the country was home to approximately 2.4 million immigrants in 2022. More than 60% originated from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), particularly Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Malawi.

These countries have, over time, experienced varying degrees of political instability, economic decline and security challenges, exposing failures of political leadership to respond effectively to these crises. As conditions deteriorate, many people are left with little choice but to seek stability and better opportunities elsewhere.

South Africa's foreign policy under the ANC also plays an indirect role in shaping migration patterns within the SADC region. Pretoria has repeatedly endorsed disputed elections in countries such as Zimbabwe, Mozambique and, more recently, Tanzania, despite concerns about electoral irregularities and the violence that has often followed.

South Africa should adopt a firmer stance against repressive governments and consistently champion democratic governance, accountability and the rule of law. It cannot continue shielding neighbouring leaders from accountability while ignoring the consequences of their governance failures. Such an approach does little to improve living conditions in those countries; instead, it contributes to the very conditions that drive people to migrate to South Africa in increasing numbers.

Other regional economic communities across Africa must also confront the governance failures within their member states as a means of reducing preventable migration. Nigeria, for example, experienced greater political stability and stronger economic growth under the leadership of Olusegun Obasanjo, who consolidated democratic institutions, strengthened the economy and enhanced the country's international standing.

The current political leadership should draw lessons from that period of governance and embrace ethical, accountable leadership. Addressing domestic political and economic challenges is essential if African countries are to create environments in which their citizens can build prosperous lives at home rather than being compelled to seek opportunities abroad.

Kgwadi is a political scientist, journalist, and research fellow at the Middle East Africa Research Institute (MEARI).