South-South migration applauded as new global phenomenon

"The movement of people between China and Africa has been beneficial to the continent's economy and skill capacity," according to Takyiwaa Manuh, director of the Social Development Policy Division for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. LUCIE MORANGI / FOR CHINA DAILY

Benefits accruing from South-South migration are largely going unnoticed, as the world focuses on the conventional movement of people from poor to richer countries, commonly referred to as South-North migration.

South-South migration is defined as the movement of people within developing countries. The Sino-Africa movement of people is classified under this trend, and recent migration patterns indicate that it is growing.

Skilled and well-educated Chinese personnel are moving to the continent to offer technical services for infrastructural development. On the other hand, China's economic boom and robust manufacturing sector have attracted many entrepreneurial Africans to migrate to Guangzhou and Yiwu for trade and business purposes.

South-south migration has become an interesting emerging trend driven by globalization.

Besides modernizing Africa's transport installation, human capacity development has been realized in most Chinese-led projects as they integrate training facilities within the sites.

"The South-South movement of people gives a subtle preview of what this migration can translate to worldwide," said Takyiwaa Manuh, director of the Social Development Policy Division at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

She spoke on the sidelines of the ninth Joint Annual Meetings of the African Union Specialized Technical Committee on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Most African countries attracting migrants are not traditional destinations and are often left out of migration studies due to the continued focus on the migration of low-skilled workers to high-income countries, she said, lamenting that such a narrative has created an image of a failing continent.

She said the recent, almost exclusive focus on the unfolding exodus of migrants to Europe is a result of the lack of reliable data, hence reinforcing the impression that African migration is essentially directed toward Europe and driven by poverty.