Harare: Migration in Africa should be seen as an opportunity rather than a crisis, according to Walter Kasempa, AU/IOM Migration Ambassador. He believes that migration is not a problem to solve but an opportunity to seize, highlighting the role of youth in shaping the present and future of African migration. As the most mobile and fastest-growing demographic on the continent, young people are both the drivers and beneficiaries of migration, whether they are searching for opportunities, escaping conflict, or building cross-border networks.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, youth are at the forefront of innovation, utilizing technology, advocacy, and entrepreneurship to pave new pathways for social and economic inclusion. Migration, when viewed through this lens, becomes a lever for growth and renewal. However, many young Africans remain undocumented, limiting their access to formal systems and participation in society. Without legal identity, they are invisible to institutions and vulnerable to exclusion.
Ensuring that young Africans are counted and protected by effective policies is not just about inclusion; it is a strategic investment in the continent’s future. In a video message recorded during a regional workshop on legal identity and migration organized by the Economic Commission for Africa in Harare, Zimbabwe, Kasempa urged young Africans to play an active role in shaping systems that affect their mobility and inclusion. His message emphasized that migration governance must be rooted in inclusion, with legal identity as a foundational goal.
Christian Oldiges, Chief of the Social Policy Section at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), underscored the importance of youth in shaping migration policy. He stated that when young people see themselves as part of the solution, migration governance becomes not only inclusive but transformative. Oldiges argued that legal identity is a governance tool for poverty reduction and a public good, essential for accessing rights, services, and protections that everyone is entitled to, regardless of their migration status.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with a market of over 1.3 billion people, offers a significant opportunity to enhance intra-African mobility and economic growth. If fully implemented, it could reduce the need for migration beyond the continent by allowing young people to move, work, and innovate more freely within Africa. The AfCFTA also provides a framework for retaining Africa’s talent, enabling young Africans to thrive as entrepreneurs, digital innovators, skilled professionals, and business leaders.
However, realizing this potential depends on addressing the identity and governance gaps that currently restrict movement and access. Tackling these issues today is crucial for unlocking the continent’s future. The Harare workshop, co-organized by ECA, the African Union, and the International Organization for Migration, focused on improving legal identity and migration data systems. A practical toolkit was also validated to support national efforts.