Migration policy frameworks in Africa

This report by the Institute for Security Studies provides a comprehensive overview of the legal and policy frameworks governing migration in Africa. It details the roles of the African Union (AU), various Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and partnerships with the European Union (EU) in managing refugees, internally displaced persons, labour migration, and the fight against human trafficking and smuggling.

• African migration is predominantly intra-regional, with the majority of movement occurring within the continent and between neighbouring countries. In 2015, 52% (18 million) of the 34 million Africa-born migrants lived within Africa, with Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, and Nigeria as the leading destination countries.
• The 1969 OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa was the first regional refugee convention in the world and remains the only relevant binding instrument in the developing world. It provides an expansive definition of refugees, including those fleeing aggression, occupation, foreign domination, and serious public disorder.
• The 1991 Abuja Treaty established the African Economic Community (AEC) and is a key legal framework for the free movement of persons and capital to enhance regional integration. It has served as the basis for the establishment and strengthening of various Regional Economic Communities (RECs).
• The 2009 Kampala Convention is the first binding regional refugee convention in the world specifically for the protection and assistance of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Africa. It aims to tackle the root causes of internal displacement and establish a legal framework for protection.
• Several Regional Economic Communities (RECs) have adopted protocols to facilitate the free movement of people. ECOWAS has completed phases for a visa-free region and the right of residence; SADC focuses on the progressive elimination of obstacles to movement; and the EAC Common Market Protocol emphasizes the free movement of goods, persons, and labour.
• The African Union and European Union have collaborated on numerous 'soft law' frameworks since 2000 to manage migration. These include the Rabat Process (political dialogue on irregular migration), the Tripoli Process (focusing on the nexus between migration, peace, and security), and the Khartoum Process (targeting human trafficking and smuggling in the Horn of Africa/East Africa).
• The AU Commission Initiative against Trafficking (AU.COMMIT), launched in 2009, employs a 'Three P Strategies' approach: prevention of trafficking, protection of victims, and prosecution of traffickers. It is guided by principles such as the best interest of the child and the empowerment of women and girls.
• The Joint Labour Migration Programme (JLMP), adopted in 2015 and led by the AU with support from the ILO, IOM, and UNECA, is the first global initiative to support the implementation of human mobility rules as a key to development and integration in RECs.
• Implementation of migration frameworks is hindered by the multiplicity of membership, where countries belong to several overlapping RECs. For example, Uganda and Kenya are members of the EAC, COMESA, and IGAD, which leads to coordination challenges and a waste of resources.
• The report warns against the 'over-securitisation' of migration by EU states, which views migrants as potential criminals or terrorists. It notes that African migrants represent only 8% of migrants in Europe and do not constitute a major security threat.

APA

Abebe, T. T. (2017). Migration policy frameworks in Africa. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ar2.pdf

Chicago

Abebe, Tsion Tadesse. Migration policy frameworks in Africa. Institute for Security Studies, 2017. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ar2.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Abebe |first1=Tsion Tadesse |title=Migration policy frameworks in Africa |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=December 2017 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ar2.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{abebe2017migration, author = {Abebe, Tsion Tadesse}, title = {{Migration policy frameworks in Africa}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2017}, month = dec, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ar2.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }