According to Ambassador Namira Negm, the Observatory’s Director, convincing member states to prioritise more frequent and comprehensive data collection remains a key hurdle.

As a young institution, only two years old and emerging post-COVID, the Observatory is grappling with human resource and financial constraints, yet it is making progress with several promising initiatives in the pipeline. A major concern is the harmonisation of migration data, which is complicated by varying methods of data collection across African states. While some countries rely solely on national censuses, others do not delve deeply into migration issues, leading to inconsistencies in the data available for policymaking.

Negm explained that the goal is for AU member states to generate reliable and harmonised data, which will help in the development of more effective migration policies in the long term. In the meantime, the Observatory is using existing data to analyse trends and provide guidance to governments.

A pressing issue highlighted by the Ambassador is the role of climate change in shaping migration patterns. The continent is witnessing increasing displacement due to rising sea levels, droughts, and other extreme weather events, particularly affecting coastal and rural communities. This internal migration often leads to security concerns in fragile states. Raising awareness among governments and the public about the link between climate change and migration is a key focus for the Observatory as it works to address these challenges.

--ChannelAfrica--