African migration – key tendencies and political dilemmas

Migration is an integral part of local livelihoods in many places of Africa. Migrants move to provide for their families, for education, religious purposes, security, to establish a better future, for family reasons and much more. Most migration takes place within countries, often from rural areas or smaller towns to larger urban areas or cities. Less migration is international, primarily directed at the neighbouring countries while migration towards Europe is relatively limited. Out of the approximately 1.4 billion people that constitutes Africa’s population, there are about 43 million international African migrants, mostly living in the country of origin, primarily in neighbouring countries and region. Europe, North America and Asia are the main settlement continents outside the continent.