Johannesburg – A high ranking African Union Commission (AUC) official has dismissed criticism by international organisations that the African states have been slow in responding to the migration crisis that has seen hundreds of Africans drowning in oceans as they try to enter Europe.
AUC Commissioner for Social Affairs Mustapha Sidiki Kaloka said the AU has in fact been working with the European Union to try and address the migration crisis. Thousands of migrants have risked their lives in rough winter seas trying to get to Europe and UN agencies have reported a surge in the number of migrants trying to reach Italy from Libya.
The European Commission statistics reveal that the EU received approximately more than 600 000 applications for asylum in 2014, reportedly the highest number of asylum applicants within the bloc since 1992. Many migrants have perished in oceans as they try to get to Europe in unsafe boats and vessels.
But Kaloka says the AU is aware of the problem and is trying to deal with the underlying causes that force Africans to flee their countries in search of safety and opportunities in Europe.
“From the African Union point of view, dealing with this issue of migration is what we have been busy with for some time. This has been a matter that has been preoccupying us. If you consider that more than 50 percent of the migrants are young people, then you realise the magnitude of the situation and we are dealing with it but improving conditions here at home,” Kaloka said.
He was addressing reporters on the side-lines of the African Union Summit in Johannesburg on the steps being taken by the continental body to address push factors that have led to the increased migration to European countries.
“We are having a lot of discussions with European leaders and among ourselves concerning the movement of people. At this summit we expect regional economic communities, Heads of State, ministers of foreign affairs will be discussion this issue at length,” Kaloka said.
Earlier on Thursday, African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma warned that if African countries do not address their internal problems that force people to flee, the gains the continent has made over the last decade could be reversed. More importantly, the African Union Agenda 2063 blue print may not succeed if parts of the continent continue to be unstable and losing people who could be a resource to a continent such as Europe.
“People should leave because they want to and not because they are forced by circumstance,” Dlamini-Zuma said.
Kaloka said: “We are looking at the root causes of the problem. We need to be honest about what are the problems and these are internal security in those countries, political issues and people who feel they are not safe. But some people migrate because they are looking for a better life elsewhere”.
The AU would have to come up with ways to make African countries “more attractive” so that Africans do not see the need to go elsewhere.
“That is precisely what the African Union is working towards and even our Agenda 2063 is talking about improving the lives of people where we have our own good industries to process raw material and people can find work and skills. The best social protection you can give to anybody is a job,” said Kaloka.
Heads of State are expected to discuss the response to the migration crisis as well as Ebola on Sunday. – SAnews.gov.za
