Kevin Nyango
60% of Africans are below the age of 25 years and this is a good number to create a huge labor pool, but due to inadequate industrialization in the region, this cannot be achieved. The high rate of unemployment within Africa has led to many youths migrating to seek employment opportunities in European countries. Many migrants who are attracted by better employment in Europe and those running away from conflict and disasters have made their trips across the Mediterranean Sea. According to the UN migration statistics, more than 33, 761 have either died or gone missing in the Mediterranean between 2000 and 2017 as of 30th June 2017.
Not most of the European nations tend to accept the migrants, some reject them, and they are seen as financial burdens posing a threat to local job market and security. The cold welcoming of the migrants by the host nations has led to a split in the EU and led to international criticism. At the same time, the high number of unemployed youths has led to the fear of an increase in recruitment of the youths to the terrorist groups.
The fifth African Union-European Union (AU-EU) Summit is to be held in Cote d’Ivoire on 6th December 2017. The main issue to be discussed in the Summit is the need of African countries to help their youthful population. In Cote d’Ivoire the public is still digesting on the issue of their citizens auctioned as slaves in Libya on their way to European countries. The country’s government has promised to make the issue one of the agendas in the upcoming Summit.
The summits come at a time when the EU is working on its African policies to address its migration and security concerns. A meeting was held in Paris in August which was attended by some European and African countries to discuss the migration crisis in Africa. The meeting concluded with promises by the European nations to help Africa in securing its borders, prevent human trafficking and support the local communities along migration routes.
Marshall Plan for Africa proposed by Germany in 2017 prioritize the issue of reducing poverty and employment to convince young Africans to stay within the continent. The investment and trade idea is seen as a way of changing focus from the government to the private sectors. Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, said on 27th November 2017 that EU would come together with Africa and start its African Investment Plan which will take in use the 44 billion euros of investment for supporting Africa’s youth and promote profitable developments.
The African summit was compared to Europe and China, and it was noted that the African is more about declaration and talks, while the European and Chinese are often followed by strong actions.
