African Migration Trends 2026: Managing Drivers, Security, and Opportunity

Structural drivers of African migration continue to necessitate policy innovations to harness Africa’s increasingly educated and mobile labor force in ways that are safe for migrants and stabilizing for the continent.

Border Management Authority  agents check documents of Zimbabwean migrants wishing to enter South Africa at the Beitbridge crossing.(Photo: AFP/Marco Longari)

Millions of Africa’s increasingly educated workforce are moving to towns and urban areas every year.

The number of migrants intercepted while attempting to enter the European Union irregularly were roughly half what they were 2 years earlier.

Africa’s population is projected to grow by 70 percent by 2050, adding more than 620 million work-ready youth to the labor force.

Malians will continue to comprise among the largest number of migrants within West Africa.

Most cross-border African migration is within Africa—and often within subregions. These movements are precipitated by a combination of push (political instability and lack of jobs) and pull (relatively greater economic opportunities) factors. Consistently high-ranking destination countries include Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria, and Kenya. Meanwhile, leading countries of origin include Burkina Faso, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, Sudan, and the DRC.

West African migrants on a boat to the Canary Island port of El Hierro. (Photo: AFP/ Stringer)

An evolving development for African migration is the expanding linkages to transnational criminal groups from outside the region.

African governments increasingly recognize that migration must bemanaged proactivelythrough job creation, skills development, and capable institutions, rather than through enforcement alone. Existing continental frameworks—such as the2006 Migration Policy Framework for Africaand the AU’s 2018Free Movement of Persons Protocol—remain unevenly implemented. However, momentum is growing, which will be necessary to address the demographic changes underway.

The African Union is also establishing a Migration Advisory Council in 2026 to provide expert guidance on migration governance.

Passengers from Sudan cross into Egypt through the Argeen Land Port. (Photo: AFP/Khaled Desouki)

Kenya’s designation of the Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps as cities will enable refugees access to local governance structures and to seek employment opportunities outside of the camps.

More on:Migration and Forced Displacement

Based on reporting by ACSS