Western countries are closing their borders. From Trump’s travel ban to Canada’s Strong Borders Act, migration policies have tightened, sending a clear message to Africans: you are not welcome.
But instead of giving up, Africa’s youth are looking elsewhere. As doors to the West shut, new migration routes are opening to countries that were never traditional destinations. Russia, China, Japan, the Gulf states, and even South America are now on the map—often through education and work opportunities.
Still, these paths come with hurdles: discrimination, weak protection for migrants, and complex compliance systems. As Dr. Chigozie Udensi from the University of Johannesburg explains:
“Africans are mapping new routes for migration… This diversification brings opportunity, but also brings new compliance routines, with success depending on language skills, credentials, and ethical recruitment.”
Yet the biggest story often goes untold: most African migration happens within Africa itself. For decades, millions have crossed borders seeking jobs, education, or safety. Countries like Equatorial Guinea, Angola, and the DRC have drawn migrants with booming economies, while universities in South Africa, Sudan, and Egypt attract students from across the continent.
Professor Kevin Thomas of Rice University notes:
“If you look at destinations in Africa that are the fastest growing for migrants, places like Equatorial Guinea stand out… The same applies to Angola and the DRC. Education also plays a role, with institutions in South Africa, Sudan, and Egypt drawing students.”
With half of Africa’s population under 20, and its youth population projected to be the largest in the world by 2050, the continent is set to reshape global migration flows. Young Africans are the most mobile; driven by work, study, and the search for stability.
Dr. Samuel Kehinde Okunade warns:
“Africa’s growing youth population will increasingly drive global migration flows. This demographic could help address labour shortages in aging societies. But frameworks like the Global Compact on Migration remain unprepared.”
One thing is clear: migration is no longer strictly West-bound. Africa’s youth are redrawing the map, on their own terms.
The question now is: can Africa create the space for its people to thrive without enforcing colonial borders?
