Global Compact for Migration: Enhancing African migration governance

The document argues that the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) provides a framework to counter biased narratives that depict African migration as primarily a crisis of people fleeing to Europe, whereas over 80% of African migration is intra-continental. It emphasizes the need for integrated data systems to inform policy, though it notes challenges such as differing legal systems and the sensitivity of security data. The author recommends that African states develop national implementation roadmaps using a 'whole-of-government' approach, citing Kenya's National Coordination Mechanism as a best practice.

• The GCM is critical for correcting the biased mainstream narrative that African migration is primarily composed of desperate people attempting to reach Europe, when in reality, more than 80% of African migration is intra-continental.
• Establishing integrated information and data exchange systems between African countries is hindered by diverse languages, legal systems, and varying levels of socio-economic and technological development, as well as the tendency of security services to treat migration data as intelligence.
• African countries lack sufficient systems to capture data on all migrant categories, and data on irregular migrants is particularly rare.
• The political will for African governments to implement the GCM depends on whether they are convinced of the compact's dividends, particularly in areas of economic, peace, and security benefits.
• Kenya's National Coordination Mechanism (NCM), part of an IGAD initiative, serves as a best practice for a holistic and consultative process to review national migration policy.

APA

Abebe, T. T. (2018). Global Compact for Migration: Enhancing African migration governance. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/pb120.pdf

Chicago

Abebe, Tsion Tadesse. Global Compact for Migration: Enhancing African migration governance. Institute for Security Studies, 2018. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/pb120.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Abebe |first1=Tsion Tadesse |title=Global Compact for Migration: Enhancing African migration governance |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=2018 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/pb120.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{abebe2018global, author = {Abebe, Tsion Tadesse}, title = {{Global Compact for Migration: Enhancing African migration governance}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2018}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/pb120.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }