President Cyril Ramaphosa has granted an extension for the completion date for the Nkabinde Inquiry.
The inquiry – formally known as the Enquiry into the Fitness to Hold Office of Advocate Andrew Chauke – was established in September last year to investigate and determine the fitness to hold office of Advocate Andrew Chauke, the Director of Public Prosecutions for the South Gauteng Division.
It is led by retired Justice Baaitse Elizabeth Nkabinde.
“The original date for the completion of the inquiry and submission of a final report was 30 January 2026. President Ramaphosa has extended this period to 30 June 2026 as a result of a delay in the commencement of the proceedings of the inquiry.
“Justice Nkabinde is assisted by Adv Elizabeth Baloyi-Mere SC and Attorney Ms Matshego Ramagaga as additional members of the inquiry,” the Presidency said in a short statement.
President Ramaphosa suspended Chauke in July last year pending the finalisation of the inquiry.
“Having asked Advocate Chauke to provide reasons he should not be suspended, President Ramaphosa has decided suspension is the correct course of action pending an inquiry.
“The President believes Advocate Chauke’s continued tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions – while facing serious accusations – would negatively affect the reputation of the National Prosecuting Authority as a whole.
“President Ramaphosa is also concerned that Advcoate Chauke will not be able to fulfil his functions optimally while facing an inquiry,” the Presidency said at the time. – SAnews.gov.za
For years, the beaches in the Gambia were simply a weekend spot for families and friends to relax. That changed when the first Perreh Bi Fest transformed the beach into a scene of cultural parades, music, sports and entrepreneurship – creating a new attraction for Gambian tourism.
The festival featured live music, traditional wrestling, volleyball, art exhibitions and small businesses showcasing their products and services. Families and visitors came together to celebrate Gambian creativity.
For small businesses, the event offered a unique opportunity to showcase their products, gain exposure and make money. Vendors sold pressed juice, fashion, crafts and food, all contributing to a lively marketplace that combined culture and commerce.
Events like Perreh Bi are one way that the International Trade Centre (ITC) supports small businesses so that they can create jobs, through the European Union Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) – Tourism and Creative Industries.
‘I am currently being trained in bakery and pastry through the EU YEP – Tourism and Creative Industries,’ said Bernadette Jatta, a young entrepreneur who exhibited at the festival. ‘This platform is helping me put my skills into practice and reach new customers.’
New ways of thinking about Gambian tourism
Ya Awa Nyassi, an ITC specialist in Monitoring and Creative Industries Development, noted that the event represents a shift in how Gambians engage with their coastline.
‘The Perreh Bi Fest will transform the coastline into a hub of cultural celebration and economic activity,’ she said. ‘The festival aims to provide a significant boost to local businesses by offering a dedicated marketplace for vendors, from fruit sellers and juice pressers to craftspeople. It also seeks to celebrate The Gambia’s rich cultural heritage through curated performances while promoting environmental sustainability with eco-friendly practices at all events.’
Tourism is a key driver of the Gambia’s economy, contributing approximately 20% of GDP and providing jobs for nearly one in five Gambians. The creative industries also hold significant potential for youth employment, with estimates suggesting up to 50,000 jobs by 2026. Perreh Bi Fest is strengthening domestic tourism while supporting small businesses.
The festival ran monthly from November 2025 to January 2026. This gave consistent platforms for artists and entrepreneurs to connect with visitors and grow the tourism and creative industries.
The event was made possible through the support of the European Union through the EU YEP – Tourism and Creative Industries project, implemented by ITC in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture with a focus on promoting the inclusiveness, sustainability and competitiveness of the tourism and creative industries.
In line with ECOWAS Vision 2050, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), through its Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, has allocated USD 719,733 to the Republic of Togo to support refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), asylum seekers, returnees, and host communities.
The humanitarian assistance project was officially launched on Monday, 26 January 2026, during a symbolic ceremony in Lomé, where the ECOWAS Representative to Togo, Ambassador Deweh Emily Gray, formally presented a cheque to Commissioner KADJA Hodabalo-Pitemnèwèa, representing the Minister of Security and Civil Protection of Togo.
The ceremony reaffirmed ECOWAS’ strong commitment to solidarity, regional cooperation, and humanitarian action, in line with Vision 2050 — an ECOWAS of the People, Peace and Prosperity for All, where borders do not limit opportunities and every citizen has a voice.
Funded by ECOWAS, the intervention is implemented and coordinated by the National Civil Protection Agency (ANPC) under the authority of the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection of Togo, with technical support from the World Food Programme (WFP). The project seeks to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable populations while mitigating the impact of humanitarian crises.
The initiative aims to strengthen the livelihoods and production capacities of displaced persons and host families, improve access to safe drinking water, hygiene, and sanitation services and provide food and non-food assistance to 10,000 vulnerable people, including refugees, IDPs, and members of host communities.
Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Prof. Fatou Sow SARR, the ECOWAS Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, Dr. Sintiki Tarfa-Ugbe, called for shared responsibility in supporting populations affected by conflict, crises, climate change, and other disasters.
She outlined the programme’s phased approach, combining immediate humanitarian assistance with long-term recovery and community resilience, and urged governments, partners, and communities to uphold protection, solidarity, and inclusion.
“Humanitarian support is not charity; it is justice. It is the recognition that every individual, regardless of circumstance, has the right to safety, dignity, and hope,” she stated.
In his welcome address, the Director General of the National Civil Protection Agency (ANPC), Lieutenant-Colonel BAKA Yoma, reaffirmed ANPC’s commitment to the transparent and effective implementation of the project in line with ECOWAS guidelines and WFP standards. He highlighted its strategic importance in strengthening social cohesion in the Savanes and Kara regions through urgent humanitarian support and sustainable resilience-building efforts.
On behalf of the Government of Togo, Commissioner KADJA Hodabalo-Pitemnèwèa called on all stakeholders to take full ownership of the project, stressing that such commitment is essential to its success and sustainability. Underscoring the initiative as a reflection of the Government’s continued determination, alongside its partners, to leave no one behind while reinforcing stability and social cohesion in affected communities.
– on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Nationals residing in Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland, and Sweden have conducted various activities aimed at strengthening organizational capacity and awareness.
According to a report, Mr. Tewolde Yohannes, Head of Public and Community Affairs at the Eritrean Embassy in the UK and Ireland, conducted a seminar for nationals in Newcastle on 25 January, focusing on the objective situation in the homeland as well as regional and global developments.
Mr. Tewolde stated that at a time when the global system shows little respect for world order, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the only assurance lies in strengthening awareness, harmony, unity, and organizational capacity.
Noting that under the current objective situation it is crucial to enhance Eritrean national identity as well as strengthen harmony and unity, Mr. Tewolde said that the most significant instrument for consolidating these important pillars is strengthening organization.
Mr. Habtom Tesfagergis, Secretary of the National Committee in the UK and Ireland, and Mr. Biniam Embaye, Chairman of the Eritrean Community in Newcastle, gave briefings on the progress of the construction of the Tio boarding school.
In the same vein, Ms. Leul Tewolde, Head of the Frankfurt and its environs branch of the National Union of Eritrean Women, conducted a seminar for members of the union branch on 17 January.
Ms. Leul, explaining the history and contribution of the National Union of Eritrean Women at various stages, said that the union is earnestly working, as in the past, to enhance organizational capacity and participation in national affairs.
Underlining that Eritrean women are at the core of the existence and continuity of the country, Mr. Teame Haile, Head of Public and Community Affairs at the Eritrean Embassy, said that Eritrean women are carrying out significant activities organized under the umbrella of the National Union of Eritrean Women.
Mr. Kibreab Tekeste, Head of Consular Affairs, on his part expressed confidence that Eritrean women in Germany will strengthen organizational capacity and play their due part in national affairs.
At the event, Ms. Bisirat Woldai, Head of the union branch in Frankfurt, presented an activity implementation report.
Likewise, Mr. Habtom Zeray, Chargé d’Affaires at the Eritrean Embassy in Switzerland and Eritrea’s Permanent Representative to the UN Human Rights Commission, at a seminar he conducted for nationals in Lucerne on 25 January, spoke on the contribution of national organizations to the successful implementation of national development programs.
Mr. Habtom also answered questions raised by participants focusing on the objective situation in the homeland as well as regional and global issues.
The Eritrean National Committee in Sweden also conducted its annual activity assessment meeting on 24 January.
On the occasion, Ms. Zaid Okbazgi, Chairperson of the National Committee, along with members of the task force, presented reports focusing on activities implemented and challenges encountered.
The participants also adopted a plan of action for 2026.
Mr. Mohammed-Ali Mohammed-Seid, Chargé d’Affaires at the Eritrean Embassy in the Scandinavian countries, called on nationals to work with commitment in the implementation of the set-out programs.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has set 30 June 2026 as the new date for the completion of the inquiry led by retired Justice Baaitse Elizabeth (Bess) Nkabinde into the fitness of Advocate Andrew Chauke to hold the office of Director of Public Prosecutions.
President Ramaphosa established the inquiry in September 2025 in terms of section 12(6) of the National Prosecuting Authority Act of 1998.
The original date for the completion of the inquiry and submission of a final report was 30 January 2026. President Ramaphosa has extended this period to 30 June 2026 as a result of a delay in the commencement of the proceedings of the inquiry.
Justice Nkabinde is assisted by Adv Elizabeth Baloyi-Mere SC and Attorney Ms Matshego Ramagaga as additional members of the inquiry.
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, today welcomed the assignment of ‘A’ long-term and ‘A-1’ short-term issuer credit ratings, with a Positive Outlook, by S&P Global (S&P) Ratings, following the rating agency’s official announcement.
According to S&P, the ratings reflect AFC’s strong institutional and financial risk profile, underpinned by robust liquidity buffers, disciplined risk management, and the institution’s ability to mobilise private capital for complex, cross‑border infrastructure and industrial projects across Africa. The ‘A’ category assessment represents the highest rating assigned to AFC by a major global ratings agency, reinforcing its position as one of the highest-rated investment-grade African financial institutions, strengthening its standing in global capital markets and supporting continued access to diversified, long-term funding sources.
In its published analysis, S&P emphasised AFC’s expanded scale, broadened mandate and established operating model, underscoring the institution’s leadership in delivering infrastructure and industrial assets that are central to Africa’s long‑term growth. The agency pointed in particular to AFC’s capacity to structure and execute complex transactions, and to deploy capital across priority sectors where private financing alone is often insufficient.
S&P also referenced AFC’s growing continental footprint, with the institution having disbursed US$18.5 billion across 36 African countries since inception. Investments span energy, transport and logistics, natural resources, heavy industry, telecommunications and technology, with flagship projects including the Lobito Corridor, linking Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo — a strategically important trade and logistics corridor supporting regional integration and supply‑chain resilience. S&P commented, “Given its mandate and emphasis on financing critical infrastructure, AFC plays a strategically important role that is not easily replicated by other development finance institutions (DFIs) or commercial lenders, in our view.”
Further AFC investments include ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms, supporting the development of industrial zones that anchor local value addition in sectors such as agro-processing, manufacturing and logistics, and the Kamoa–Kakula copper complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the world’s highest-grade and fastest-growing copper projects. The Corporation has a history of successful asset exits, including partial exits from ARISE and from Ghana’s Takoradi Port, demonstrating AFC’s ability to originate, scale and responsibly reinvest capital. Together, these investments underline AFC’s capacity to combine long-term development impact with disciplined execution and capital stewardship.
The Positive Outlook reflects S&P’s expectation that AFC will continue to broaden its shareholder base — which currently comprises 60 shareholders, including sovereigns, financial institutions, pension funds and multilaterals — strengthen its capital position, and sustain strong liquidity and asset‑quality metrics as it delivers on its medium‑term strategy.
“This S&P Global rating is a strong validation of AFC’s financial strength, governance, and strategic role in financing Africa’s infrastructure and industrial transformation,” said Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of Africa Finance Corporation. “It reflects the institution we have built: a solutions-oriented, execution-driven platform with disciplined balance-sheet management and a track record of delivering complex, high-impact projects. Just as importantly, it reinforces AFC’s commitment to work in lockstep with sovereign priorities, supporting long-term national development plans with bankable structures, catalytic capital, and measurable outcomes that accelerate growth, competitiveness, and jobs across the continent.”
S&P highlighted AFC’s experienced management team, its successful capital-raising programme and track record of maintaining very strong liquidity coverage ratios, even under stressed market conditions. S&P commented, “Based on end-2024 data, our 12-month liquidity ratio was 3.1x (including scheduled loans disbursements), while the six-month ratio was 5.5x. These ratios compare favorably with peers. Under stressed market conditions, we consider AFC’s liquid assets sufficient to service its borrowing and maintain operations through the next year without slowing the pace of planned disbursements.”
The S&P ratings are expected to further reinforce AFC’s role as a catalyst for private investments, as it continues to finance infrastructure, industrialisation and trade-enabling assets critical to Africa’s long-term economic transformation.
Structured Credit International Corp. (www.4SCIC.com) acted as a ratings adviser to AFC.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).
Media Enquiries:
Yewande Thorpe
Communications
Africa Finance Corporation
Mobile: +234 1 279 9654
Email: yewande.thorpe@africafc.org
About AFC:
AFC was established in 2007 to be the catalyst for pragmatic infrastructure and industrial investments across Africa. AFC’s approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.
Eighteen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of energy, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 48 member countries and has invested over US$18.5 billion in 36 African countries since its inception.
AFC is also rated A3 (Stable Outlook) by Moody’s Ratings, A+ (Stable Outlook) by Japan Credit Rating Agency, and AAAspc (Stable Outlook) by S&P Ratings (China) Co., Ltd. and AAA (Stable Outlook) by China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co. Ltd. (CCXI). www.AfricaFC.org
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), le principal fournisseur de solutions d’infrastructures du continent, se félicite de l’attribution des cotes de crédit d’émetteur à long terme « A » et à court terme « A-1 », avec une perspective positive, par S&P Global (S&P) Ratings, à la suite de l’annonce officielle faite par l’agence de notation.
Selon S&P, les notations reflètent le profil de risque institutionnel et financier solide d’AFC, étayé par de solides réserves de liquidité, une gestion disciplinée des risques et la capacité de l’établissement à mobiliser des capitaux privés pour des projets industriels et d’infrastructures complexes et transfrontières à travers l’Afrique. La catégorie « A » représente la notation la plus élevée attribuée à AFC par une agence de notation de premier plan à l’échelle mondiale, renforçant sa position en tant qu’établissement financier africain le mieux noté en matière d’investissement, renforçant son leadership sur les marchés mondiaux des capitaux et soutenant l’accès continu à des sources de financement diversifiées et à long terme.
Dans son analyse publiée, S&P met en relief la portée renforcée d’AFC, son mandat élargi et son modèle opérationnel établi, soulignant le leadership de l’organisation dans la fourniture d’infrastructures et d’actifs industriels essentiels à la croissance à long‑ terme de l’Afrique. L’agence a notamment souligné la capacité d’AFC à structurer et à exécuter des transactions complexes, ainsi qu’à déployer des capitaux dans des secteurs prioritaires où le seul financement privé est souvent insuffisant.
S&P fait également référence à la présence continentale croissante d’AFC, l’organisation ayant déboursé 18,5 milliards USD dans 36 pays africains depuis sa création. Les investissements couvrent l’énergie, les transports et la logistique, les ressources naturelles, l’industrie lourde, les télécommunications et la technologie, avec des projets phares tels que le corridor de Lobito, qui relie l’Angola, la Zambie et la République démocratique du Congo, un corridor commercial et logistique d’importance stratégique soutenant l’intégration régionale et la résilience de la chaîne d’approvisionnement. S&P indique : « Compte tenu de son mandat et de l’accent mis sur le financement des infrastructures critiques, AFC joue selon nous un rôle stratégique important qui n’est pas facilement reproduit par d’autres institutions de financement du développement ou bailleurs commerciaux. »
Parmi les autres investissements d’AFC figurent les plateformes industrielles intégrées ARISE, qui soutiennent le développement de zones industrielles ancrées dans la valeur ajoutée locale dans des secteurs tels que l’agrotransformation, la fabrication et la logistique, et le complexe de cuivre Kamoa-Kakula en République démocratique du Congo, l’un des projets de cuivre les plus performants et à la croissance la plus rapide au monde. La société présente un solide bilan de cessions d’actifs, y compris des sorties partielles d’ARISE et du port ghanéen de Takoradi, ce qui démontre la capacité d’AFC à créer, à dimensionner et à réinvestir de manière responsable des capitaux. Ensemble, ces investissements soulignent la capacité d’AFC à combiner l’impact sur le développement à long terme avec une exécution disciplinée et une gestion des capitaux.
La perspective positive reflète l’attente de S&P selon laquelle AFC continuera d’élargir sa base de 60 actionnaires (notamment des fonds souverains, des établissements financiers, des fonds de pension et des organismes multilatéraux), de renforcer sa position en fonds propres et de maintenir de solides indicateurs de liquidité et de qualité des actifs dans le cadre de sa stratégie moyen-termiste.
« Cette notation S&P Global est une véritable validation de la solidité financière, de la gouvernance et du rôle stratégique d’AFC dans le financement des infrastructures et de la transformation industrielle de l’Afrique », déclare Samaila Zubairu, président et CEO d’Africa Finance Corporation. « Cela reflète l’institution que nous avons construite : une plateforme axée sur les solutions et sur l’exécution, avec une gestion disciplinée des bilans et une expérience dans la réalisation de projets sophistiquées et à fort impact. Tout aussi important, elle renforce l’engagement d’AFC à travailler en étroite collaboration avec les priorités souveraines, en soutenant les plans de développement nationaux à long terme au moyen de structures bancables, de capitaux catalyseurs et de résultats mesurables qui accélèrent la croissance, la compétitivité et l’emploi sur l’ensemble du continent. »
S&P souligne l’expérience de l’équipe de direction d’AFC, le succès de son programme de levée de capitaux et son bilan en matière de maintien de ratios de couverture de liquidités très élevés, même dans des conditions de marché tendues. S&P a commenté : « Sur la base des données de fin 2024, notre ratio de liquidité sur 12 mois était de 3,1x (y compris les décaissements de prêts programmés), tandis que le ratio sur six mois était de 5,5x. Ces ratios se comparent favorablement à ceux des pairs. Dans des conditions de marché tendues, nous estimons que les actifs liquides d’AFC sont suffisants pour assurer le service de ses emprunts et maintenir ses opérations tout au long de l’année prochaine sans ralentir le rythme des décaissements prévus. »
Les notations S&P devraient renforcer encore le rôle de catalyseur d’AFC pour les investissements privés, alors que l’entreprise continue de financer les infrastructures, l’industrialisation et les actifs essentiels à la transformation économique à long terme de l’Afrique.
Structured Credit International Corp. (www.4SCIC.com) a agi en tant que conseiller de notation auprès d’AFC.
Distribué par APO Group pour Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).
Relations avec les médias :
Yewande Thorpe
Communications
Africa Finance Corporation
Portable : +234 1 279 9654
Email : yewande.thorpe@africafc.org
À propos d’AFC :
AFC a été créé en 2007 pour être le catalyseur d’investissements pragmatiques d’infrastructures et industriels à travers l’Afrique. L’approche d’AFC allie expertise sectorielle et conseil financier et technique, structuration et développement de projets, et capital-risque pour répondre aux besoins de développement des infrastructures de l’Afrique et stimuler une croissance économique pérenne.
Dix-huit ans plus tard, AFC présente un bilan éprouvé en tant que partenaire de choix en Afrique pour investir et fournir des actifs d’infrastructure de haute qualité qui fournissent des services essentiels dans les secteurs de base de l’énergie, des ressources naturelles, de l’industrie lourde, des transports et des télécommunications. AFC compte 48 pays membres et a investi 18.5 milliards USD dans 36 pays africains depuis sa création.
AFC a également reçu les cotes A3 (perspective stable) de Moody’s Ratings, A+ (perspective stable) de Japan Credit Rating Agency, AAA spc (perspective stable) de S&P Ratings (China) Co., Ltd. et AAA (perspective stable) de China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co. Ltd. (CCXI). www.AfricaFC.org
Le Président de la République, Alassane Ouattara, a échangé le jeudi 29 janvier 2026 à Abidjan, les vœux du nouvel an 2026 avec les membres de l’administration du territoire et les groupements et partis politiques. À cette occasion, le Chef de l’État a engagé l’administration territoriale à maintenir l’esprit de responsabilité, d’opportunité et d’innovation pour faire avancer la Côte d’Ivoire dans la stabilité, la solidarité et les progrès partagés.
À cet égard, il a salué l’ambition des membres de l’administration territoriale pour une gouvernance locale plus participative et inclusive, impliquant davantage les populations dans la planification, le suivi et l’évaluation des programmes publics. « Ce changement de paradigme contribuera, sans aucun doute, à l’amélioration de l’action publique au niveau territorial et à l’émergence de solutions durables, co-construites avec les acteurs locaux », a-t-il souligné.
Il a également rappelé le rôle moteur plus que jamais décisif de l’administration pour garantir la mise en œuvre efficace des politiques publiques au plus près des populations.
Alassane Ouattara a, par ailleurs noté, avec satisfaction, la volonté du corps préfectoral, en cette année 2026, d’intensifier l’action des comités départementaux de sécurité dans la lutte contre les grands fléaux de la société à travers une approche coordonnée et responsable.
Pour soutenir davantage les actions de proximité des membres de l’administration territoriale, le Président de la République entend poursuivre la dynamique de modernisation de l’administration et des finances publiques.
Dans ce sens, les textes relatifs aux transferts de compétences feront l’objet d’un examen attentif par le gouvernement. « Je comprends votre attente quant à l’adoption prochaine d’un cadre juridique destiné à renforcer le statut des élus locaux. Ce cadre est essentiel pour consolider votre rôle institutionnel », a-t-il ajouté.
Pour sa part, le préfet de la région de l’Indénié-Djuablin, Eugène Kouadio Kouassi, par ailleurs porte-parole de l’administration du territoire, des partis et groupements politiques a réaffirmé l’engagement du corps préfectoral à œuvrer pour une administration territoriale plus efficace, plus accessible et toujours plus proche des populations. Non sans remercier le Président de la République pour l’amélioration des conditions de vie et de travail de ses pairs.
Distribué par APO Group pour Portail Officiel du Gouvernement de Côte d’Ivoire.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Nadine Biehler, Researcher, German Institute for International and Security Affairs
Images of rubber dinghies overcrowded with refugees heading for Europe and narratives about mistreatment and exploitation of migrants on unsafe migration routes have come to dominate how African migration is perceived in European public and policy debates.
They suggest a continent on the move, driven mainly by conflict and heading to the global north. These narratives are deeply misleading. Nevertheless, they shape public opinion and political decision-making.
Fears of large-scale migration from Africa to Europe are exaggerated. Data shows migration from Africa has been growing, but more slowly compared to growth rates of migration worldwide – and largely takes place on the continent.
Because migration from Africa is seen primarily as a looming crisis for Europe, policy responses tend to focus on border control and deterrence, rather than on cooperation, the development potential of migration or protection.
We are researchers working on migration, forced displacement and data analysis. We combined our expertise in a new working paper to analyse the latest data from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) on global migration. We also looked at current data on forced displacement.
We found that:
most African migration happens within Africa
the majority of African migrants moving across borders are not fleeing violence
the vast majority of those forced to flee never leave their own country or region, let alone the continent.
Understanding these mobility patterns is essential for more realistic and effective European migration policies.
The data
The UN DESA migration estimates that our paper is based on are the most comprehensive global data source available on migration. The estimates measure how many migrants live in a country at a given point in time (stock data). However, they don’t capture when they moved (flow data) or why. In addition, UN DESA figures exclude movements within countries.
Our paper complements these estimates with data provided by the UN Refugee Agency and the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre on forced displacement. This includes internal displacement, which is particularly widespread in Africa.
This research found that most African migration takes place within Africa.
Globally, there were about 304 million international migrants in 2024. Africans made up around 15% of that total.
In other words, the majority of the world’s migrants are not from Africa.
Even more striking is where African migrants actually go.
In 2024, around 25 million Africans were living in an African country outside the one they were born in or held citizenship of. This exceeded the number of Africans living outside the continent (20.7 million) by around 21%.
This means that African migration is predominantly intracontinental, a long-standing trend that has become even more pronounced over time.
Several factors help explain this.
Travel within Africa is often cheaper and safer than journeys to other continents. Regional free movement agreements, such as those in west and east Africa, enable cross-border mobility. At the same time, legal pathways to Europe, North America or Asia remain limited and costly for most Africans, with high visa rejection rates and few opportunities for regular migration.
African migration is also gendered. Men are more likely to migrate than women, especially when moving beyond the continent. This gap is smaller for migration within Africa. This suggests that more accessible legal routes and less dangerous journeys help with overcoming migration barriers for women.
Forced displacement
War and conflict are forcing more people to leave their homes worldwide, and Africa is no exception.
By the end of 2024, more than 120 million people globally were forcibly displaced by war and violence. However, the majority of them (73.5 million, or 60% of the forcibly displaced globally) never left their own country to seek asylum elsewhere. They remained internally displaced in their countries of origin.
This is particularly true for the African continent, where almost half of all internally displaced people worldwide lived.
Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo account for almost 80% of internal displacement in Africa.
Even when Africans do cross borders to seek protection, they usually stay close to home.
In 2024, almost 87% of the 12.2 million African refugees and asylum seekers worldwide lived on the African continent. Only a small minority sought protection outside Africa.
This challenges the widespread idea that forced displacement in Africa automatically translates into large-scale migration to Europe.
In reality, neighbouring countries – often themselves affected by poverty or instability, and sometimes both countries of origin and destination for forcibly displaced people – carry most of the responsibility for hosting displaced populations.
Even when taking into account future displacement scenarios driven by the climate crisis, the World Bank estimates that affected people will remain within their regional neighbourhoods.
Still, globally, as well as in Africa, voluntary migration dominates: out of 45.8 million African migrants globally, refugees and asylum seekers make up 12.2 million.
This is also true for African migration to countries of the European Union, where residence permits for work, education or family reasons (2024: about 670,000) significantly exceed first-time asylum applications (2024: about 240,000).
Why these findings matter
First, the data shows clearly that African migration is not primarily about Europe. It is, above all, about Africa itself. For European and other global north policymakers, our findings suggest a need to rethink priorities. Supporting refugee-hosting countries in Africa, expanding legal migration pathways and investing in reliable migration data may ensure more effective migration management. Focusing narrowly on deterrence is misplaced.
Second, our findings highlight the importance of African countries and regions as migration destinations and refugee hosting states. Countries such as Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa or Nigeria host millions of migrants and refugees, often with far fewer resources for integration and protection than wealthier states. For African governments, this means continuing to strengthen regional and continental mobility frameworks. These would allow people to move safely and legally for work, education or family reasons. Intra-regional migration is already the backbone of African mobility. It is likely to remain so.
Third, the analysis demonstrates that UN DESA data is indispensable but incomplete. It excludes domestic migration, undocumented migration and many forms of temporary or circular mobility common in Africa. Funding cuts to international data-collection institutions risk further weakening evidence-based policymaking.
Understanding how people actually move – and why – is essential for designing fair and realistic migration policies.
– African migration: focusing on Europe misses the point – most people move within the continent – https://theconversation.com/african-migration-focusing-on-europe-misses-the-point-most-people-move-within-the-continent-273679
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Martina van Heerden, Senior Lecturer in English for Educational Development, University of the Western Cape
Students’ well-being in higher education has been a growing concern globally since the coronavirus pandemic, which disrupted learning and lives generally.
Well-being has been described as “the combination of feeling good and functioning well; experiencing positive emotions such as happiness and contentment as well as the development of one’s potential, having some control over one’s life, having a sense of purpose, and experiencing positive relationships”.
Well-being is important for student engagement, achievement and belonging, which all make for a more positive learning and teaching experience.
We teach in an academic literacy module at a historically disadvantaged university in South Africa. Since the pandemic, we’ve continued to see that students’ well-being is often neglected, especially by students themselves. This neglect could potentially lead to lack of motivation, lack of interest and burnout.
In South Africa, first-year students’ well-being is often precariously placed, as they have to navigate socioeconomic and familial stresses, while adjusting to the demands of higher education. One of the many hurdles that students face is due to the “digital divide”, and it includes having to learn how to use unfamiliar technological resources. There are high dropout rates for first-year students.
That’s despite the efforts of universities to support them.
As academic literacy practitioners, we aim to help students to understand what’s required of them academically. In the last five years, since the pandemic, we’ve revised our module to foster a more caring, responsive and engaging environment. The idea is to smooth the way into university studies and to enhance student well-being.
We recently published a paper on what we’ve learnt so far. Our main finding is that creating a “care-full” environment for learning is not as simple as it sounds. Care has to be offered at various levels – and also received. Universities, lecturers and students still need to overcome some barriers to receiving care.
Getting to know students
Our academic literacy module is offered to first-year undergraduate students and runs for both semesters, with a different group of students each semester. In line with the university’s mandate, the module is concerned with student flourishing and success.
During the pandemic (2021-2022), we became aware of our students being in emotional distress, and so, to focus more deliberately on student well-being, we adopted a more “care-full” approach to learning and teaching. We embedded “care” into our module, by considering how we might equip students better to deal with the demands of higher education. We listened to our students’ experiences and needs and made the necessary adjustments to provide a more supportive, holistic, care-full classroom. This continued in our post-pandemic classroom.
The changes included adding assignment-specific guides, more resources, more focused discussions on time management and organisation, regular reminders of due dates, and links to work apps.
We also had regular conversations with the students as our way of getting to know them and finding out how they were coping. We wanted them to know that we were there to care for them, not just to impart knowledge.
But we came to realise that by 2023 students were still struggling with the same issues as before, despite the changes we had made. This became clear from student questionnaires, end-of-semester feedback forms, and the informal conversations we had with them.
An analysis of our data showed that certain challenges acted as impediments to care and negatively affected students’ well-being. The three main impediments were:
resources
time management
anxiety.
In other words, these problems prevented students from “receiving” and benefiting from the care we offered.
Resources
Resources present a dual impediment to students’ well-being. Firstly, students might not have access to resources like laptops and a stable internet connection. Secondly, they might not know how to use the available resources efficiently.
For example, many of our students indicated that they struggled to find lecture content or to submit assignments on the university’s Learning Management System. This was even though we had made “how-to” guides for students showing step-by-step instructions and the university scheduled workshops on how to navigate it. Resources became another hurdle instead of helping as intended.
Organisation and time management skills
Many students struggle with meeting deadlines and balancing their social and university lives. During the pandemic, the online environment provided little structure to their days, so some of them struggled with managing their workload. This continued when classes were back on campus. It is not a problem that is unique to South Africa, but time management is important for well-being (and thus student success).
Feelings of inadequacy and anxiety
The last impediment we identified related to feelings of inadequacy and anxiety. These feelings may be a result of struggles with resources and time management skills, but they might also be related to students’ own perceived competence in their studies. Anxiety has become a challenge for many students in university, not just in South Africa, but globally. These feelings may stop students from reaching out for help.
We’ve realised these challenges act as impediments to care. That is, despite the efforts educators may put into creating a “care-full” environment, certain challenges can hamper their effectiveness. In our context, we weren’t able to make all our students feel cared for. This realisation could negatively affect the well-being of students and educators alike. Academics are at risk of burnout too.
We still think academics have to be “care-full” with students, but they can’t do it alone, and their care has to be reciprocated if it’s to result in academic success and well-being. Care requires input from both the educators (the carers) and the cared-for (the students). When it works both ways, a “care-full” approach might improve students’ well-being.
Both parties need to take responsibility. Students must be willing to receive care by taking care (that is, asking for advice, accepting the advice and resources that have been made available, doing what they can).
We understand that they might feel uncomfortable or anxious; we are not blaming them. Educators must take care in interactions with students, in pedagogical choices, and in content. University structures and processes are also involved in care. And the issue extends beyond the confines of the university into the national health, welfare and safety landscape. Care requires buy-in from all parties. Otherwise there may be limits to how care is received.
– Student well-being comes from care, but is caring enough? Academics reflect on 3 stumbling blocks – https://theconversation.com/student-well-being-comes-from-care-but-is-caring-enough-academics-reflect-on-3-stumbling-blocks-274066
