Fostering Free Movement of Persons in West Africa: Achievements, Constraints, and Prospects for Intraregional Migration
International Migration, (2002)Abstract
Migration in West Africa is strongly influenced by poverty, depressed economies, and socio-political crises. The influx of migrants into the cities and irregular migrations across national borders in search of decent living conditions reflect a crisis of development. To understand the dynamics of these diverse migrations, we focus on causes and changing configurations of emerging migratory flows; autonomous female migration, trafficking in women and children; intraregional migration as alternatives to ``illegal'' migration to the North; progress and constraints in creating a borderless subregion and fostering intraregional migration. The abolition of the mandatory residency permit, introduction of Brown Card travel certificates, and the elimination of the ubiquitous border formalities are aimed at facilitating intraregional movements of persons. Progress was constrained by multiple cooperation groupings and memberships, conflicting objectives, inconsistent political support, growing national identity, depressed economies, and xenophobia against ``foreigners''. We suggest that governments should align national employment laws with regional treaties, protect the rights of migrant workers, promote pro-poor employment strategies, adopt variable speed approach in implementing migration policies, and enforce migrants' rights of residence and establishment.