But as a mother and an African, I would like to raise my voice and denounce THE CALAMITY OF ILLEGAL MIGRATION OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO EUROPE AND ELSEWHERE. The international media have often turned the spotlight on “this societal failure within our countries and the infrahuman treatment inflicted by Africans on other Africans”. However, this tragedy continues.

The time has come, therefore, for a general mobilisation of States, grassroots communities and families to take concerted action to eradicate this plague.

As an African woman, I respectfully and humbly appeal to Governments to make the fight against the plague of illegal immigration to Europe an absolute priority. It is a form of cross-border crime and its effects are devastating on human capital. It is also a symptom of dysfunctions in the governance of our States. Concerted action is needed to eradicate this canker.

I expect the African Union to do more. The African Youth Charter and the Youth Decade Action Plan are no longer enough. Specific action is needed to destabilise and then eradicate the networks of smugglers so that the Sahara Desert, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea are no longer the graveyard of young African men and women.
In this respect, I call on the African institutions responsible for financing development ; this epidemic is their primary concern.

I appeal to the African civil society, whose Africanism has been demonstrated time and again, to take action against this dehumanising plague in order to dissuade and bring “home our lost young men and women”.

The tentacles of our media need to spread further across the globe in order to give greater momentum to the combat against this pestilence.

African women, let’s take advantage of our Pan-African Women’s day celebrated on July 31st by “girding up our loins” to form the first hedge of around our young sisters, sons and children. Our children ! Let’s prevent them from heading off into misadventure. We African women must help our sisters and children to understand that dignity and work really do exist here in Africa.

More synergy amongst all stakeholders - the AU, States and their agencies, grassroots communities, civil society, the media, traditional rulers, religious leaders and PARENTS (even if they are not always involved in these dehumanising projects) - will help to dissuade volunteers from this high-risk departure and encourage our young people to return home.
Africa needs the human strength of its children who are convinced that their future lies in Europe or elsewhere.

More mobilisation means more efforts to create or improve the conditions for young people to be integrated into the labour markets in our countries. Our departing volunteers blinded by illusions should not be fooled about “the status of their new happiness". The success of a perilous “crossing”, to say the least, is no guarantee of happiness and dignity. So I call on our young people to be more discerning. Our continent is a land of opportunity, as evidenced by the young people who are fighting to contribute to the development of their countries, sometimes with great difficulty. But there is also evidence of a new non-African migration to Africa, which surprisingly enjoys preferential treatment.

Parents and grassroots communities must act responsibly now to stop the movement of these caravans, which are demeaning and degrading for their passengers. Let’s destroy these dangerous desert crossing caravans and water rafts in the minds of our children. Let’s help our young people to love their country by showing them that we ourselves love AFRICA. The future is here in Africa for our young people.

We have a duty to provide appropriate training facilities with easy access for all and to help our young people as a matter of priority by giving them preference for the development of our continent. Our sovereignty is at stake.

Let us act so that our young people are worthy and proud of their Africa, while respecting the human, cultural and moral values of Mother Africa.

Laure Olga GONDJOUT