"About 31 million Africans have migrated internationally. This is about 3 percent of the continent’s population. More than half of those migrating internationally do so within Africa, with only about 28 percent of migrants from Africa going to Western countries. Of total migrant stock in Europe, less than 12 percent are from Africa," Manuh said.

She said most of the migrants in Europe have chosen to move there voluntarily. The majority of the migration streams are within Africa, with the bulk in the sub-regions.

West Africa leads in migration by 70 percent, with 65 percent in Southern Africa, 50 percent in Central Africa and 47 percent in East Africa.

Africa's diaspora, however, has become a critical source of foreign revenue. A report by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa shows that remittance inflows to Africa quadrupled between 1990 and 2010, reaching nearly $49 billion in 2010. That is equivalent to, on average, 2.6 percent of Africa’s GDP.

The bulk of the funds were directed to the food, health and education sectors, ranging from 30 percent in Kenya and 37 percent in Nigeria to 47 percent in Burkina Faso and 67 percent in Senegal.

Manuk believes that the continent needs to embrace regional integration and border management in order to facilitate migration and visa-free travel for Africans in Africa.

She also urges governments to design policies that secure the benefits of migration at global and regional levels, with involvement of the countries of destination and of origin.

Manuk also called for the harmonization of data among member states on mobility and migration of persons to enable governments to develop robust policies that address the challenges of population growth, unemployment and the skills gap on the continent. The data will promote the intra-Africa migration movement, she said.

Lucymorangi@chinadaily.com.cn