Migration policy making in Africa: internal and external drivers of policy coordination

Migration policies are central for balancing migration trade-offs, benefiting origin and destination countries, and safeguarding migrants’ rights. In Africa, debates persist about the internal and external motivations shaping migration policies and their ability to manage complex migration flows. Many African countries and regional economic communities (RECs) lack local ownership and a unified, robust framework for regulating migration. This fragmented, externally driven approach often prioritises national security and border control over broader migration complexities. Despite efforts by some countries and RECs to harmonise policies, national-level coordination remains weak, hindering effective governance and the protection of migrants’ rights. This chapter examines mechanisms to improve coordination across agenda-setting, decision-making, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, emphasising the role of collaboration in policy processes. It recommends a greater home-grown effort to harmonise and coordinate fragmented policies, enhancing migration management and maximising benefits for all stakeholders.