Mobility Regimes in Africa: Policies: Territorialities, Practices, and Regionalization

Abstract

Over the past two decades, research on migration and borders in Africa has undergone significant evolution, particularly in light of the externalization of European migration policies. This phenomenon has represented a genuine turning point in the analysis of mobility dynamics in Africa. However, an overly narrow focus on the impacts of European policies has sometimes overshadowed other essential dimensions of migration policies across the continent. This article proposes a multidimensional analysis integrating geographical, political, legal, and socio-anthropological perspectives to better grasp the complexity of mobility regimes in Africa. In this article, we present four key dimensions through which these regimes manifest: the territorialization of borders, the political instrumentalization of mobilities, the tensions between regional integration and national sovereignties, and the altered relationships between states and societies.