Policy gaps to persist on regional migration in Horn

Subject

Population movement trends in the Horn of Africa.

Significance

The Horn of Africa has for decades been affected by high levels of population displacement caused by conflict, poverty and repressive governments. However, the current focus on those attempting informal passage to Europe, of whom Eritreans are the second-largest number after Syrians, overlooks that more than 50% of regional people that migrate do so within the Horn itself. The contemporary debate also overlooks the fact that mobility in the Horn has long been central to regional economies.

Impacts

• With the continent's focus on mega infrastructure projects, including dams, the number of IDPs can be expected to increase.
• However, where these projects threaten agro-pastoralist livelihoods, long-term forms of seasonal migration could decrease.
• Skilled migrants will remain the main source of emigration to developed-world destinations, hurting developmental progress.