Sunday, July 18, 2010
Pan African Network on Migration Formed
Four years ago, in an international conference on migration in Brussels, a small
group of activists from various African countries gathered to compare experiences
and share stories about migration within and out of Africa. Two years ago, at a
similar conference in Manila, a larger group of African civil society members
gathered to affirm a similar commitment and hold the first meeting focused on
African migrants' rights.
Another meeting was held in the city of Bamako, Mali in West Africa four days ago.
Representatives from over 40 organizations from Africa as well as allies from
Europe and the U.S. gatheredto establish the Pan African Network in Defense of
Migrants’ Rights.
Priority Africa Network and the Black Alliance for Just Immigration were honored to
One of the key missions of the Network is linking the discourse on the effects of globalization in Africa to the current reality of migration and displacement. The first Africa-focused and coordinated migration network will work
to bring to international forums the voices and challenges of migration in and out of Africa
and increase the visibility of the expulsions, exploitation and abuses that are currently
ongoing in Africa, Europe and the U.S.
One of the issues discussed at the meeting was the current bilateral agreements 
between between European and African governments to collaborate in the expulsion of African
migrants. In essence, a country in Africa – for example Nigeria or Cameroon – sign an
accord with France, to deport all the individuals - back to the poverty and persecution
they fled from in the first place. In exchange, the Africa country receives “development
aid” compensation which never reaches those most in need, especially not the migrants.
These agreements are never transparent and are often times in violation of human rights
conventions.
The single exception to this criminal policy of bilateral agreement is Mali which has, thus far, not signed an agreement to accept expelled Mallians from Europe. The holding of the first Network gathering of African migrant rights representatives is therefore very fitting.
If there is a single country in Africa with the highest number of incidents of repression, it is Libya. In the least known bilateral agreement (also never made public), Libya and Italy signed an accord to prevent and return migrants off of the coast of Libya and across the Mediterranean.
The most recent demonstration of this abuse is Libya’s detention and expected deportation of some 245
Eritreans from a nation known for the imprisonment, torture and death of its citizenry. These refugees are
Other participants in the historic gathering and formation of the Network were members of a deported group of Malians who had organized themselves into a strong grassroots advocacy front. AME (Association Malienne des Expulsés). Similar organizations all over Africa are setting new trends of mobilization of those who have been the primary victims of the most harmful policies. Over the coming months, the Network will ensure that abuses against migrants will not go unnoticed, unreported or unheard. It will bring unprecedented collaboration from organizations who are doing similar work but have not shared and coordinated their work before.
Nunu Kidane, Director Gerald Lenoir Executive Director
Priority Africa Network Black Alliance for Just Immigration
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Brief history of African migration to the U.S
Global migration has doubled over the past 25 years. The UN estimates there
are over 200 million people living outside their countries of birth. According to the
African Union, nearly 1/3 of these are Africans. Africans make up the highest
number of displaced persons in the world.
What does this mean for Africans in the US ? According to the last US Census of
2000, there are approximately 1.7 million people in the US who claim Africa their
region of birth. The number of African immigrants in the US has increased several
fold over the past decade and a half. Consider this: in the two decade between
1960 and 1980, the number of Africans in the US was estimated at 110,000.
Over the next twenty years of 1980 to 2000 however, the number increased to over
530,000.
Bringing it closer to the Bay Area – the numbers for California are the following:
Total CA population is 35 million, approximately 9.6 million are foreign born, of which
approx. 185,000 are Africa born. For updated US Census figures on the Africa-born in
The Bay Area has a high percentage of African immigrants. In San Francisco and especially Oakland, there are restaurants, hair salons, arts and crafts shops visible all over the cities. African professionals work in various city, university/college and corporate offices, and families living and attending schools in the inner cities and suburbs of the Greater Bay Area. Alameda County has the highest number of African immigrant residents in California following Los Angeles County.
For more detailed facts and figures of recent African migration to the U.S. visit the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, “In Motion”
The need to organize and build connected communities
There are as many African immigrant groups as there are countries and ethnic identities. Some are formally organized with California tax exemption status and offices, others less so, but organized just the same and meeting regularly.
The communities provide essential services to members, many of which remain unknown and un-acknowledged by Bay Area social services, elected officials and the public at large. Immigrant community associations provide information on housing, employment, health, education, transport and social/cultural rituals that immigrants depend on. They also facilitate as interpreters of language and conduits of cultural understanding without which many new immigrants would be highly disadvantaged.
Priority Africa Network mobilizes leadership of such communities to focus on the need of building the capacity, increase visibility and engagement in civic activities. We do so by providing information to community groups on activities and opportunities in the Bay Area they may benefit from:
1. hold capacity building forums where African immigrant community groups may access information on organization building, accessing funding, leadership training and networking.
2. conducting African Diaspora Dialogues to build cultural alliances and solidarity between African immigrants and African Americans
3. Opportunities for civic engagement and voter registration where African immigrants can be seen and heard on issues of immigration reform, living wages, housing, school board, etc.
Our work is supported by the following - THANK YOU !
the P.A.N Community &
