21/05/2015
Migration Governance in Ethiopia: The need for a comprehensive National Policy on Migration.
“The heinous and diabolical mass murder of innocent Ethiopian migrants in Libya by Islamic State (IS) Libya highlights the need for broad public dialogue, including particular interfaith consultations, on religious extremism as well as a swift governmental response to the emergency situation. As our response was united, firm and quick, long-term sustained well-reasoned action against those who slaughtered our citizens is essential. It also needs to be sober, reflective and introspective. In this piece, I focus on the crucial, but long-neglected, topic of migration. Migration has to be at the top of the agenda for national dialogue. Why do we have this migration flux of Ethiopians, what is migration, and what should be done about migration?
In this brief piece, I explain why the recent savage terrorist murders and ‘Afro-phobic’ attacks against migrants in Libya and South Africa, and the plight of Ethiopian migrants in Yemen and other migration destinations or routes should be seen from a long-term perspective. First, it is important to note that there is no easy panacea for migration-related challenges, and thus foresight and long-term engagement is required. Second, the general public assumptions about migration causes, triggers and accelerators are not necessarily scientifically supported by research. Considering poverty and smugglers as the main culprits for migration is not correct. Naturally, the poorest migrates the nearest. In relative terms, in Ethiopian society, a migrant spending on average 4000 USD in the first three months is not the poorest. Smugglers and traffickers need to be prosecuted and severely penalized. On the contrary to widely held assumptions, with eradication of poverty, the propensity to migrate will increase, and people will increasingly become mobile for business, education, employment and even tourism. The integrationist agenda of the AU and other RECs in Africa absolutely depends on mobility of goods, services, and capital. These are unthinkable without mobility of people. With the current surge in infrastructural development in transportation, telecommunications and information technology, surge in mobility should expect. Criminal justice will never address illegal mobility. As far as there is demand for illegal migration, the supply, despite stiffer legal measure, will be there. It is the transaction cost that will increase including threats to life. Third, Ethiopia needs a national comprehensive stand-alone policy on migration that provides strategic thinking and clarity about the exploits and benefits of migration. Such a policy on migration requires a national normative, institutional and collaborative state framework and non-state organs that can facilitate voluntary, safe and legal mobility, and curb forced or illegal migration by Ethiopians. Legislative reforms needs to follow clear policy direction. Fourth, Ethiopia needs a sustained civic dialogue and engagement to address erroneous pervasive perceptions and images of ‘dreamland destinations of migration’. Fifth, Ethiopia needs to cooperate with regional, continental and international actors to enhance the role of community-led local engagement and global cooperation. Migration is a local action of an individual decision with global implications. While preventive and responsive global actions are required, the ultimate, sustainable and effective response to the migration crises lays at local level. Thereof, the need for long-term global-local collaboration to address the root causes of displacement and illegal mobility.”
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Sincerely,
Africa · African Union · AU and NATO · Ethiopia · Foreign Policy and International Relations · Horn of Africa · Human Rights · Humanitarian Law · Peace and Security
