IGAD urges coordinated action as regional migration surges
The report shows international migration has risen sharply, climbing from 4.1 million people in 2013 to 6.8 million in 2022, an increase of nearly two-thirds.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has raised concern over the rising number of migrants in the region, saying member states must adopt stronger data systems and coordinated approaches to manage the trend.
During the release of the second edition of the 'IGAD Population and Migration Statistics Report', Deputy Executive Secretary Mohamed Ware said credible information is vital in shaping effective responses and long-term planning.
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“It is through the availability of accurate, reliable and timely data that we can develop evidence-based policies and national development plans to achieve the prospects of a resilient, peaceful, prosperous and integrated region where citizens enjoy a high quality of life,” Mohamed noted.
The report shows international migration has risen sharply, climbing from 4.1 million people in 2013 to 6.8 million in 2022, an increase of nearly two-thirds.
The surge is tied to conflicts in Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia, political instability, recurring droughts and persistent hunger.
By the end of 2022, the bloc, which includes Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda, was home to 4.3 million refugees.
This represents one in six of all refugees globally, a situation that has strained health, education and other services in already vulnerable host communities.
Migration routes remain varied, with the Eastern corridor carrying people through Yemen to the Middle East, the Northern passage through Sudan and Libya leading towards Europe, and the Southern route stretching through Kenya and Tanzania to South Africa.
IGAD statistician Charles Ogola explained that the region’s population grew from 217 million in 2012 to 283 million in 2022, covering over 5.2 million square kilometres and accounting for a fifth of Africa’s population.
He added that its GDP in 2022 stood at $338 billion (Sh43.7 trillion), supported by a working-age population of 169.7 million, nearly half of them women. The labour force expanded from 81.8 million in 2010 to 117.5 million in 2022.
“The working-age migrants comprised 63.3 per cent of the total migrants,” Ogola said, noting that women and children dominate the refugee and asylum seeker populations.
He added that labour participation stands at 69.6 per cent for men compared to 47.6 per cent for women, leaving a wide gender gap of about 22 per cent.
Djibouti’s representative Oumalkaire Ahmed emphasised that migration remains central to the region’s development. “For us to manage this phenomenon effectively, we must understand it first, by ensuring we have credible information that is easily comparable and also very comprehensive,” said Oumalkaire.
Oumalkaire urged IGAD states to strengthen cooperation and commit to regular, reliable reporting to support effective decision-making.
“Remember, migration is about the people, their aspirations, their challenges and contributions. So we need to have robust data so that we can have policies that harness the protection of migrant workers,” she added.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics director general Macdonald Obudho, in remarks delivered by acting population statistics director Rosemary Bowen, described migration as a process shaped by political, economic, environmental and social drivers.
He said while migration fosters integration, growth and cultural exchange, it also presents challenges in governance.
“However, it also presents significant governance challenges, particularly in ensuring safe, orderly and regular migration while addressing irregular migration and its associated risks,” Obudho said.
He added that Kenya has historically served as a hub for migration, playing the role of source, transit and host.
Obudho said the new findings point to the urgent need for harmonised definitions, methods and systems for data collection.
“As we launch this report, let us commit to implementing its recommendations and filling the gaps where necessary. Let us strengthen our national statistical systems, enhance regional cooperation and invest in the capacity of our institutions to collect, analyse and utilise migration data,” he urged.
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