The African Migration Observatory, a study platform launched by the African Union to improve migration governance on the continent, was inaugurated in the Moroccan capital Rabat.
“Today, Africa will have its own data, this will allow us to disprove several myths about migration,” said Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita at a ceremony he co-chaired Friday with the AU Commissioner for Social Affairs, Amira El Fadil.
The AMO’s mission will be to collect, analyse and exchange data across “an interconnected system” linking African countries to improve migration policies that are “often ineffective due to a lack of data”, according to the inauguration document.
African Union inaugurates 'migration observatory' in Moroccohttps://t.co/pDH6Gh35U3
— Najlae Benmbarek (@najlaebb) December 19, 2020
Bourita called the AMO’s establishment “a strong message to the international community on the determination of Morocco and Africa to establish better migration governance on the continent”.
He added that it will help “demystify” migration issues and deplored the politicisation of the subject.
I've been received by HE Mr. Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation &Moroccan Expatriates of t/ Kingdom of Morocco We discussed way forward & further cooperation
— Amira Elfadil (@AmiraDSA) December 20, 2020
I'd like to thank Hon. Minister for his warm welcome & hosting t/ @_AfricanUnion delegation pic.twitter.com/pUNYHl4H80
Fadil said the inauguration “marks the beginning of our efforts towards generating data that is balanced and relevant to the needs of Africa in the field of migration”.
Migration in Africa is essentially intra-African, with 80 percent of migrants from African countries remaining on the continent, and only 12 percent entering Europe — the remainder travelling elsewhere — according to figures released by Rabat in 2018.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
