Côte d’Ivoire hosts forum on reimagining Africa-Europe migration ties

Abidjan Dialogue Urges Fresh Approach to Migration Challenges

Abidjan played host to a pivotal political dialogue forum this month, bringing together policymakers and thought leaders to reconsider the longstanding partnership between Africa and Europe concerning migration. The event, held over two days in mid-July, focused on reshaping the narrative around migration, security, and development.

Migration as a matter of freedom, not crisis

Speaking at the opening session, Sidi Touré, Vice President of the Liberal International and Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Animal and Fisheries Resources, challenged the prevailing security-centric perspective on migration. Citing United Nations data, he highlighted that migrants constitute just 3.7% of the global population, with over 96% of people remaining in their countries of birth. « Migration should not be framed as a problem to be solved, but as a fundamental aspect of human freedom, » he asserted.

Touré drew attention to the fact that 70% of African migration occurs within the continent itself. He pointed to the bustling daily passenger flows at Adjamé’s bus terminal as a testament to this reality. « This isn’t a crisis—it’s simply life, » he remarked, emphasizing Côte d’Ivoire’s long-standing culture of hospitality, encapsulated by the welcoming term *Akwaba*.

The minister also voiced concerns over the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), warning of the potential erosion of free movement across the region. « Regardless of political differences, our peoples are bound by brotherhood, our economies by shared destiny, and free movement by a heritage worth safeguarding, » he stated. The forum concluded with a call for actionable recommendations to be compiled into a policy brief.

Confronting xenophobia on both sides of the Mediterranean

Alexandra Heldt, Regional Director for West Africa at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, took aim at the rising tide of anti-migrant rhetoric across Africa and Europe. She referenced the recurring waves of violence against foreign nationals in South Africa since 2008, stressing that « no nation can secure its future by scapegoating migrants for economic woes. »

Heldt also highlighted a striking contradiction in Europe, where labor shortages persist alongside growing hostility toward immigration. « Migration fosters exchange, innovation, and entrepreneurship—it builds bridges between societies rather than walls, » she argued. Her plea centered on a balanced Africa-Europe partnership rooted in mobility, shared responsibility, and the shared values of liberty.

« We must shift the conversation from fear to trust, from exclusion to cooperation, » she urged decision-makers, emphasizing that « hospitality is not a sign of weakness, but a source of strength and a strategic policy in itself. »

Toward a new migration paradigm

The forum continued with a series of panel discussions exploring the legal, geopolitical, and human dimensions of migration. Participants engaged in robust exchanges aimed at identifying pathways to more equitable and sustainable migration governance.