Afrobarometer finds that proposals for freer movement across Africa often stoke economic anxiety: almost two-thirds of respondents favor admitting fewer or no migrant jobseekers. The survey of 38 countries also shows that the better-educated and wealthier are more likely to oppose immigration. High-profile xenophobic unrest in South Africa has intensified attention on the issue, while nearly half of respondents say they have considered emigrating.
Survey: Free Movement Proposals Trigger Economic Anxiety Across Africa
A survey across ten African countries over whether governments should allow or limit the cross-border free movement of people.
A Ghana-based pollster, Afrobarometer, found that proposals to allow freer movement of people across Africa frequently trigger economic anxiety among residents, particularly over job competition.
Key Findings
Nearly two-thirds of respondents said they would prefer fewer — or no — jobseekers be admitted into their country, the survey reports. Across 38 countries surveyed, that sentiment reflects widespread concern about employment and economic security.
The poll also found that better-educated, more skilled and wealthier Africans are often the most resistant to immigration, especially when potential migrants come from relatively prosperous countries. This pattern suggests that perceived economic competition, not only cultural concerns, shapes attitudes toward migration.
Context
Xenophobic unrest in South Africa — where violent mobs have forced thousands of foreign Africans to flee — has pushed migration to the forefront of public debate. Those events appear to reinforce anxieties highlighted by the Afrobarometer research.
Mobility Aspirations
Despite these concerns, mobility remains an important goal for many: nearly half of respondents across the 38 countries said they had considered emigrating, reflecting a strong desire to seek opportunities elsewhere.
Bottom line: Proposals for freer movement across Africa continue to provoke economic worries for large segments of the population, even as many individuals contemplate emigrating themselves.
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