Migration, Displacement and Refugees : An overview of The Role of Some Regional African Organizations

This paper examines the role of some Regional African Organizations and Bodies such as the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States and the Southern African Development Community in the plight of Africans and movement. An overview of migration, displacement and refugees shows that: Africa is known for its long history of migration within and beyond the vast continent, including movement for work, study, tourism, search for expert/professional services and in the more unpleasant of cases, forced migration both in fleeing for survival of such vices as terrorism, attacks and communal unrest, kidnappings and abductions. It is estimated today that the number of people with African descent that live outside of the continent is close to 140 million, most in the Western Hemisphere. This paper highlights respective regional organizations and some of the purposes of their establishment that can influence some challenges associated with movement of Africans within their regions and within the continent -some were intended to coordinate political positions on broader issues of peace and security, others to enhance free trade and still others to enhance cooperation on very specific issues. This paper is analytical and descriptive, and proffers recommendations that should make the life of Africans more conducive through the provision of social amenities, good education, economic and employment opportunities amongst others, while advising that insecurity, insurgency, terrorism and unrest be thoroughly addressed without political, ethnic or religious biases, being other causes of migration, displacement and refugees in Africa