February 2023- Press Review
NATIONAL
Skilled refugees and asylum seekers are an untapped resource for South African healthcare
Prashana Rampersad, 26 January 2023
“South Africa is seen as a desirable destination for refugees, given its comparative stability and level of industrialisation, and we host the largest number of immigrants on the African continent. According to official estimates, the country is home to about 2.9 million immigrants who come to the country fleeing persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality or membership of a particular social group, or because of political opinions. This is roughly 5% of the population of the country. Many of these people are skilled professionals, including in the medical professions, but because of the non-voluntary nature of their immigration, their skills are often not used effectively.”
Read the full article here: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2023-01-26-tap-into-skilled-refugees-asylum-seekers-for-sa-healthcare/
Thousands of South Africans are losing their citizenship – some without even realising it
Luke Fraser, 2 February 2023
“Many South Africans are being stripped of their South African citizenship when they voluntarily obtain citizenship in a second country. Gary Moore, a Senior Researcher at the Free Market Foundation, said that thousands of South Africans are having their citizenship stripped, with many, if not most, not knowing. Moore looked at a 2021 application made to the Pretoria High Court for an order to declare Section 6(1) of the Citizenship Act constitutionally invalid.”
Read the full article here: https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/661731/thousands-of-south-africans-are-losing-their-citizenship-some-without-even-realising-it/
Compassion and cooperation key to addressing human trafficking and smuggling of migrants in South Africa
United Nations, Office on Drugs and Crime, 16 January 2023
“South Africa is a preferred country of destination for different classes of migrants, including smuggled migrants, many of whom are brought in by organized syndicates. However, numbers are not readily available due to various reasons, including a limited capacity to collect data. Thus, trafficking in persons is usually deflected as kidnapping, rape and gender-based violence – all highly prevalent in South Africa.”
Read the full article here: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2023/January/compassion-and-cooperation-key-to-addressing-human-trafficking-and-smuggling-of-migrants-in-south-africa.html
REGIONAL
Press Release on the Kenyan Government’s decision to recognize the Stateless Pemba Community descendants as Kenyan Citizens
African Commission on Human and People’s Rights 16 December, 2022
“The African Commission welcomes this legal measure that ensures the inclusion and protection of this group that did not enjoy the full benefits of nationality and citizenship. Extending the full measure of rights of citizenship to those who considered Kenya as their country and have no other nationality, makes Kenya an inclusive society and fulfils the requirements of human rights and norms of non-discrimination and equality, as enshrined under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights…”
Read the full article here: https://achpr.au.int/en/news/press-releases/2022-12-16/kenyan-governments-decision-recognize-stateless-pemba-community
Angolan refugees return to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to build a new life
Africa Renewal, January, 2023
“On the day of departure, emotions are overwhelming. All voluntary returnees gather at the Departures Centre in the Lôvua camp and wait to be called to board the bus that will take them to the border. All around them, hundreds of other refugees come to say goodbye. Some nod, others burst into tears. Then, as the bus leaves the camp, groups children and teens start following the bus on the two sides of the road accompanying the travellers as far as they can.”
Read the full article here: https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/january-2023/angolan-refugees-return-democratic-republic-congo-build-new-life
African Migration Trends to Watch in 2023
African Centre for Strategic Studies, 31 December, 2022
“While often unrecognized, most African migration occurs within the continent as migrants seek employment opportunities in neighboring regional economic hubs. In fact, 80 percent of African migrants do not have an interest in leaving the continent. Africa accounts for only 14 percent of the global migrant population, compared to 41 percent from Asia and 24 percent from Europe.”
Read the full article here: https://reliefweb.int/report/world/african-migration-trends-watch-2023
INTERNATIONAL
Rwanda asylum policy: Migrants granted right to challenge
BBC News, 16 January 2023
“Migrants facing potential removal to Rwanda under the Home Office's relocation scheme have won permission to challenge the policy. Last month the High Court ruled that the scheme was lawful. Today's ruling means there is no prospect of flights leaving immediately while it goes to the Court of Appeal.”
Read the full article here: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-64294461
2023 Update on Key Federal Immigration Policies and Implications for Health
Drishti Pillai and Samantha Artiga, 30 January 2023
“Over the last two years, there has been a surge in immigration activity at the border, with over 2 million encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2022. Against this backdrop, there have been ongoing changes to several key immigration policies reflecting actions by the Biden Administration and court rulings.”
Read the full article here: https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/issue-brief/2023-update-on-key-federal-immigration-policies-and-implications-for-health/
Rishi Sunak’s migration plan ‘would have left 45,000 in permanent limbo last year’
The Guardian, 31 January, 2023
“The prime minister announced proposals this month to ban anybody who comes to the UK irregularly from applying for asylum and then deporting them as soon as possible. A new immigration bill is expected to be introduced within weeks.”
Read the full article here: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/31/uk-rishi-sunak-channel-small-boat-crossings-plan-45000-permanent-limbo-refugee-council
EU Migration Officials Review Migration Policies
VOA News, 31 January, 2023
“European Union migration ministers are meeting in Stockholm to review migration policies, especially on returning migrants with no right to asylum back to their home countries. The gathering is considered an informal meeting ahead of the meeting of all 27 EU heads of state February 10, where migration is expected to top the agenda.”
Read the full article here: https://www.voanews.com/a/eu-migration-officials-review-migration-policies/6935351.html
Compiled by SIHMA - Scalabrini Institute for Human Mobility in Africa
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