Africa: African Champions Chart the Way On the Global Compact for Migration

Lead

As governments convene in New York for the second International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) to assess global progress on migration commitments, African nations are emerging as leaders in implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), while new data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) paints a mixed picture of risks and progress along key migration routes.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting from Al Jazeera focuses on the humanitarian and safety dimensions of migration, drawing on the IOM's Global Overview of Migration Routes to highlight that despite falling arrival numbers in some areas, dangers persist. The outlet emphasizes that tighter border controls and shifting routes have made journeys longer and deadlier, particularly on the Eastern Mediterranean Route where deaths nearly doubled.

In contrast, AllAfrica's coverage highlights the developmental potential of migration, reporting that 17 African nations are "pioneering global migration management." The article underscores the GCM's role in helping countries reframe migration from a challenge into an opportunity, citing examples of national policies and regional cooperation.

While Al Jazeera's tone is urgent and solution-focused, AllAfrica's is more informative and forward-looking, yet both agree on the central role of the 2018 GCM and the need for continued cooperation.

Key Claims

• Adoption of the GCM: The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration was adopted in 2018, as noted by both Al Jazeera and AllAfrica.

• Mixed Migration Routes Picture: According to Al Jazeera, the IOM's Global Overview of Migration Routes offers a mixed picture for the Middle East and North Africa, with some routes seeing reduced arrivals but continuing or worsening risks.

• Mediterranean Arrivals: Al Jazeera reports that in 2025, just over 66,500 people reached Italy and Malta via the Central Mediterranean Route, almost identical to the previous year. Arrivals to Greece, Cyprus, and Bulgaria along the Eastern Mediterranean Route fell by about 30 percent, while the Western Mediterranean Route saw a modest rise. The Western African Atlantic Route to the Canary Islands recorded a dramatic 62 percent drop.

• Rising Deaths on Eastern Route: Despite lower arrivals, Al Jazeera notes that deaths and disappearances on the Eastern Mediterranean Route nearly doubled in a single year, and on the Western African Atlantic Route, deaths barely declined despite the steep drop in arrivals.

• Central Mediterranean Danger: More than 1,300 people are known to have died on the Central Mediterranean Route in 2025, keeping it among the world's deadliest migration corridors, per Al Jazeera.

• Sudan Displacement Crisis: Al Jazeera describes Sudan as having become the world's largest displacement crisis, a claim not mentioned by AllAfrica.

• Youth Unemployment in MENA: Al Jazeera reports that youth unemployment in the MENA region often exceeds 20 percent, a factor that drives migration.

• Seventeen African GCM Champions: AllAfrica reports that 17 African nations—Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eswatini, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe—assessed their progress and prepared a joint contribution to the IMRF.

• Reframing Migration as Development: According to AllAfrica, the GCM enables countries to reframe migration from a risk-laden challenge into a development pathway, aligned with the African Union's Migration Policy Framework for Africa and Agenda 2063.

• Investments in Migration Infrastructure: AllAfrica notes that African countries are investing in national migration profiles, data hubs, and frameworks to manage migration more effectively.

• Remittances to Africa: The World Bank estimates remittances to Africa at nearly US$100 billion annually, as reported by AllAfrica, highlighting the economic significance of migration.

Perspectives

Humanitarian and Safety Perspective (Al Jazeera): This viewpoint emphasizes the dangers migrants face, particularly along Mediterranean and Atlantic routes. It stresses that border tightening and route shifts lead to more perilous journeys, and calls for safer and more regular migration pathways.

Developmental and Governance Perspective (AllAfrica): This perspective views migration as an opportunity for economic growth and regional integration, highlighting the proactive steps African nations are taking to implement the GCM. It underscores the importance of balancing policy objectives and using data and partnerships to maximize benefits.

Conclusion

The second International Migration Review Forum comes at a critical juncture. While African Champions demonstrate that the GCM can be translated into practical action, the persistence of deadly routes and rising displacement underscore the ongoing challenges. The global community will be watching whether the momentum from Africa's example can inspire broader implementation and whether commitments translate into safer, more orderly migration for all.