Monograph 112: Diasporas, Remittances and Africa South of the Sahara. A Strategic Assessment, Marc-Antoine Perouse de Montclos

Modern African “ethno-national” diasporas of today are very different from the “old” black diaspora which emerged out of the slave trade. Contemporary migrants are very much in touch with their homeland, to which they often remit money on a regular basis. They have an economic and political role to play in the countries of departure as well as arrival. In the homeland, they can contribute to development and democracy, especially in enclaves, island micro-states and war-torn countries which record disproportionate emigration flows. Yet the governments of developing countries are not fully aware of the opportunities that these migrant communities offer. Most of them still consider their nationals abroad as a nuisance, either because they resent the “brain drain” or because of the political threat they represent, especially to authoritarian regimes. Indeed some African diasporas back armed struggles, terrorist groups, and criminal organisations. However, one must be careful not to overemphasize their contribution either to development and democratic transitions or to disruptive forces.