This reflective article sketches the specificity of migratory flows in
sub-Saharan Africa, which is essentially intra-regional. While changing
dynamically, the distinctive features include increasing female
migration, diversification of migration destinations, transformation of
labour flows into commercial migration, and emigration of skilled
health and other professionals. These migrations take place largely
within the context of sub-regional economic unions which are dominated
by the economies of a single country, and movements of persons have
been directed to a limited number of countries within these unions.
Emigration pressure is fuelled by unstable politics, poverty and
rapidly growing populations. In general, remittances have been rising
steeply and are an important source of income for many poor countries
and serve as lifeline to pay for basic services, health care, education
of siblings and children and to enhance agricultural production. Yet,
millennium development goals and other development agendas are being
compromised by the emigration of scarce skilled manpower. A major
challenge now facing the region is how to retain, attract back and
effectively utilise the rare skills of nationals living abroad for
national development. The paper concludes by stressing the need for
rich countries to help poor African countries foster local development,
reduce poverty and create domestic employment in the spirit of
co-responsibility