Immigration Management Flaws and National Security in Africa

Abstract

It is a fact that many states in world are struggling with migration issues. For example, migration is an important if not a contentious part of European Union foreign policy. It also bears lots of implications not only for the internal but external foreign policy of its individual nations. But the guiding objective for this study is to find out how immigration management flaws affect national security of African countries with specific reference to Kenya and the South Sudan. The study hopes to educate policy makers on the trends of curbing negative effects of migration. This study employed Securitization theory to address the impact of immigration management flaws on national security in Africa. This study was undertaken in Nairobi County, the target population involved multiagency and multi-stakeholders involved in matters related to migration management and security. This research utilized secondary data sources and primary data sources mainly through structured questionnaires. The data was then analysed by document plus thematic analysis, and the final results presented through narrative format, histograms and the use of frequency tables. This research uncovered that many of the ways of curbing the negative effects from migration are not known at the local level and are not comprehensively considered by many neighbouring states mainly due to the different perspectives held of geopolitical interests and cultural beliefs and practices. A good instance to set an example is when there is wilful migration. This usually happens when the migrant wilfully chooses to leave his domicile. This is usually accompanied with the blessing of his or her family. Therefore, from the migrant’s family, migration is viewed as a good thing since this is the one activity that greatly supplements their income. But in better off or well to do countries migration is usually not looked on too favourably. The research also came to the conclusion that migration and its various patterns are influenced by political, economic and cultural interrelations. From these three factors we will be able to observe the disparities, poverty, environmental degradation and human rights violations and how they affect these patterns of migration and how for governments to achieve long term solutions to these problems they will need to come up with effective comprehensive policies in this sector. This study therefore recommends that policy makers through the various concern agencies explore policies that facilitate positive outcomes from migration and migrants in such a way that they create new opportunities and benefits for the host states and for themselves, through for example the transfer of beneficial knowledge and rich diversity, that will help to grow the economy and lead to development.