In Africa, sports and advertising push illegal emigration

A bishop from Equatorial Guinea reflects on the causes and consequences of migration in Africa, and asks for a stronger focus on the fight against poverty and illegal emigration.

In 2023, at least 8,565 people died on migratory routes all over the world, making it the deadliest year on record, according to figures published on March 6th by the International Organization for Migration.

The Mediterranean route continues to be the most dangerous, with at least 3,129 people dying or going missing last year. Most of the deaths in Africa happened in the Sahara Desert and on the sea route to the Canary Islands. And official figures are probably underestimates. The actual death toll is possibly higher.

During a visit to the headquarters of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Bishop Miguel Ángel Nguema Bee of the Diocese of Ebibeyín, in Equatorial Guinea, stressed the need for a more effective way of dealing with global poverty and migration.

According to Bishop Nguema, the main cause of migration is poverty, and the aid sent by international organizations is not reaching those in greatest need. “Much of the aid is lost due to corrupt governments and inefficient structures,” he said. Instead of depending only on governments, the bishop suggests a more direct approach, through the Church, local foundations, and associations of women or young people. “These entities could provide much more direct and efficient help, such as grants for young people in vulnerable situations,” he added.

During the conversation with ACN, the Bishop of Ebibeyín also brought up another issue: the false image of ease and prosperity in the West. This encourages many Africans to migrate, even when doing so is illegal. “Misleading publicity and promises of easy money made by the sports industry are responsible for promoting this illusion,” he said. “The West presents a false idea of easy solutions, which contributes to a false sense of security.”

According to the bishop, migrating is always a difficult decision, and illegal migration is an enormous risk. Many people never reach their destination, and for those who do, becoming stable and settled can take anywhere from five to ten years. “Of course, there are also real benefits, such as better economic opportunities and greater safety, but sometimes when I travel to Europe, people ask me for things, like a phone […] They don’t realize how difficult life can be there; they don’t understand the difficulties they are going to face. It is essential that we paint a more realistic picture of the difficulties that migrants face in their search for a better life,” he told ACN.

Returning to the issue of international aid, Bishop Nguema said that the solution is stimulating local economic activity, instead of encouraging dependency. “It is crucial that we help create structures that boost self-sufficiency and sustainable development, so that people can move forward without depending on external help,” he explained.

The prelate also insisted on the importance of a non-paternalistic approach to aid, saying that it should not be linked to ideology, or be a new form of colonialism. “Aid is often predicated on the recognition of values that are not present in local culture. There is an imposition of practices such as abortion and the penetration of religious sects are signs of this new colonialism,” Bishop Nguema said.

Over the past five years, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has supported 28 projects with the Church in Equatorial Guinea, helping it to bolster its pastoral work.

—Maria Lozano