Africa-EU migration summit: the unanswered questions an why EU will shut borders

By Simon Mone

Finally there is some good news. Reactions to this migration headache are coming. Last week Europe invited Africa for talks aimed at finding solutions to African migrants.

The summit that took place in Valletta, Malta is thought to have left participants with many unanswered questions. The outcome; an action plan between Europeans Union (EU) and Africa was crafted to try and solve this puzzle that has been going on without solutions.

While critics say the two-day summit left stars hovering over their heads, such meetings are good. Why? Other than mistreating and roughing up vulnerable migrants, the conference hall is a decent place to bring migratory pressure to a momentary rest.

So the meeting was essential because in order to arrive at any useful answers, it was going to require cooperation from either side. Critics aside, the summit’s outcome was worth it.

A trust fund for Africa was launched. Its aim, to transform this created action plan into good activities. And money has been pledged; $1.9 billion by European Commission, who urged EU members to follow suit. Hope the African ‘sharks’ do not simply peep at it and yes! It is another windfall.

So they can squander this trust fund. It is not meant for luxury but strictly to subsidise inadequacies of African leadership, ones that have continued to drive innocent civilians out of their homes. So did the summit start to solve any problems? Yes, but some issues remain lingering.

Let’s see. First, some members might want to have a say in how the money is managed. This will cause conflict. There is bound to be disagreement in what to spend the money on. Is it migration control by tightening border security the more? Or developmental projects, where causes of migration are brought to a complete stop and thereafter, reviving livelihoods of local civilians through start-up (entandikwa)? Or having roundtable discussions with warring factions (militia)?

While it is true that some answers still hang to a thread, step one is done. This action plan can be amended to include all possibilities, so that all doubts are settled. Intended beneficiaries are crying out for peace. Second, it is feared that certain decisions could have been made in the corridors of the summit, without involving all participants. This, according to some, has thrown transparency out through the window.

And once a thing like that occurs, it is difficult to achieve aims of such important meetings. The fear is that some participants have been coerced to ascend to an extended border control into Africa. So they grabbed the bait and signed. One thing is for sure.

That Europe expects Africa to call back its citizens who have fled into Europe. This is the objective. And a huge frog has jumped into the water pot and contaminated it. The tragedy in Paris a couple of day ago will force EU to become more rigorous in dealing with refugees.

Some cross with bad intentions. Therefore, linking this African trust fund to migration may be viewed as a cunning attempt by Europe to rid their land of foreign nationals who have entered illegally.

Third, in addressing root causes of migration ̶  conflict, political and economic instability, human rights violations and poverty, this action plan should be tailored to the following: promote negotiated solutions to existing conflicts. Supporting mediation efforts, participating in peace keeping, conflict prevention and strengthening international security.

Helping people, by lessening suffering and improving living conditions, would eliminate migrants’ attempt to take dangerous journeys on the sea.

Setting up an emergency trust fund and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displacements in Africa is a good step in the right direction.

The writer is a civil engineer