The Message Is Clear: Europe Faces An Immigration And Refugee Crisis, They Don’t Want Any More African Immigrants

Africa has what it takes to be an independent continent, but due to corruption, for decades, Europe has been a continent where African migrants have dominated in search of a better life, finding jobs, and enjoying various benefits provided by almost all the European countries to their nationals. Whether a migrant or a refugee, Europe will assist them to integrate and find some work to do.

For example, Holland, Belgium, Germany, and Italy are among the European countries that continue to face a migration crisis while also doing their best to help Africans who have already integrated and speak the language.

Due to armed conflicts, corruption, and overpopulation of African countries, the European migration crisis began in 2015 with the flow of refugees from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Many of the immigrants were documented and were working to sustain the economy.

The eviction of thousands of migrants living on sidewalks at Porte de la Chapelle, north of Paris by the French Police. Photo credit: PASCAL ROSSIGNOL/Reuters

However, Europe lost interest in African migration after the European Union in 1993. The Eastern European countries that became part of the 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe, had the opportunity to work in the West, thus taking over several jobs from African migrants.

In September 2020, Europe adopted the New Pact on Migration and Asylum. According to the pact, countries that accept migrants under a certain quota receive subsidies from the pan-European budget. Sea and land borders were strengthened.

Several European countries, under various pretexts, refuse to follow this mechanism, and the United Kingdom even used the problem of migrants as one of the reasons for leaving the European Union.

In 2019, according to the European Commission, 8.8 million non-EU citizens were employed in the European labor market. During that period, 2.2 million migrants arrived in the European Union. In May 2021, almost thirteen thousand people reached the coast of Italy, which is three times more than in the same period in 2020. With the Ukraine-Russia war, the migration situation in Europe looks even more critical today than it was five to six years ago.

Britain has no choice but to sign a pilot scheme with Rwanda. The agreement requests that Rwandan asylum seekers wait for a decision on their applications in Africa. According to the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, "the UK wants to ensure the only way to obtain asylum in the country is legal and safe."

The horrible living conditions of African migrants in Europe

The immigration crisis in Europe and the deportation of Africans to various countries across Africa began long before the Russia-Ukraine war. This is a clear message to Africans and African leaders that enough is enough. Both Europe and America are no longer interested in African migrants.

One thing I am sure will happen sooner or later is that, since Europe and America are aware of the impact of corruption, which is one of the major obstacles to development in Africa and creates hardships for the ordinary Africans, there will be a time when they will reduce or stop giving financial assistance to Africa, and that’s when the real problem will start. Former American president, Donald Trump had already suggested that.

Therefore, it’s time for African leaders to take the immigration crisis in Europe seriously and start laying out a master plan to prevent this mass exodus of Africans in search of greener pastures because the African continent has enough rich resources to solve the unemployment crisis and the mass immigration.

Many Africans in the Diaspora are willing to settle and create businesses in Ghana but the circumstances at home, including high tariffs at the Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority, are not favorable. The government should consider all these issues to encourage investments that possibly create jobs.

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