East Africa: East Africa's Migration Story Is Not Just About Europe - What Policymakers Get Wrong

What the report says

According to a Conversation Africa analysis carried by AllAfrica, migration from East Africa and the Horn is often framed mainly as a route to Europe, but the author argues that this picture misses the larger reality of movement within Africa and to nearby destinations. The piece says most of the region’s international migrants move within East Africa and the Horn, or to places such as the Gulf states and southern Africa, for work, family, education, trade and security.

The article says migration governance in the region is shaped by narratives promoted by governments, European actors and international organizations, which tend to emphasize border control, anti-smuggling efforts and returns. It argues that this focus can leave out the experiences of migrants, their families and local communities, and can narrow policy responses to a transit-to-Europe model that does not reflect how people actually move.

The analysis also challenges common assumptions that poverty alone drives migration or that smugglers are the only major explanation for irregular movement. It says livelihoods, insecurity, diaspora support networks and the cost of different routes all influence decisions. The author calls for better data on intra-African migration, more legal pathways for labor mobility, stronger oversight of recruitment agencies and cooperation that goes beyond border enforcement. The broader point is that migration policy may be more effective if it is built around migrants’ own priorities and experiences.