Clive Myrie’s piece illustrates that migration is nothing new, and that some solutions are apparent with a little effort and goodwill (The world can solve this migration crisis. A more humane approach is the answer, 10 September). Those leaving Africa for Europe today, with many dying in the Mediterranean, have the same reason that I had more than 20 years ago – poverty and a lack of opportunities. Africa is synonymous with bad government, as leaders propped up by western powers are a permanent fixture on the continent. Poor leadership creates unemployment and poverty, which leads to legal and illegal migration.
Let’s look at three countries in central Africa. According to the World Bank, 52.5% of the population in Congo-Brazzaville live below the international extreme poverty line, while over 70% in Equatorial Guinea live in poverty, and more than 45% in Cameroon live below $3.20 a day. The leaders of these countries have a combined age of over 250 years and have been in power for more than 123 years in total. These countries are blessed with natural resources, and their leaders are strong allies of the west. These strongmen have amassed obscene wealth, which is hidden in European banks and tax havens, while their people live in poverty.
If Europe is serious about solving the migration problem, especially illegal migration, it must compel African governments to create solid political leadership architecture. With sound government and investment in skills and education in Africa, Europe will also benefit from highly skilled people from these countries filling skill shortages in Europe. It’s a win-win situation. With poor leadership in Africa, foreign aid and other half-baked policies remain gimmicks designed to paper over some cracks. With good governance in Africa, millions of us, once young migrants over two decades ago, will retire to our home countries.
Asu Ashu
Aveley, Essex
• It’s astonishing that the EU and Britain do not have logical policies on migration and labour. It is madness that asylum seekers and migrants are not given temporary work permits and others put on seasonal or five-year contracts. Their labour and tax contributions would do much to offset complaints that they are living off the state.
Employment, however lowly, restores dignity, provides agency and enables individuals to chart their own course. Studies in resilience of migrants and refugees have shown this.
In the meantime, constructive discussions and economic development in countries of origin can help stem the tide of those forced to leave and separate genuine refugees from those trafficked. It’s time to stop demonising migrants and refugees, and letting this issue become a political pawn for hatemongers.
Angela Raven-Roberts
Kidlington, Oxfordshire
• Well done, Clive Myrie, for calling for a coordinated and humane global approach to the migration crisis and pointing the finger at climate change as the primary driver of displacement. Disappointing, then, that the G20 leaders’ declaration, to which Rishi Sunak was a signatory, has little of substance to say on these issues in its almost 40 pages of finely honed platitudes.
Richard Yelland
Chambourcy, France
• In his excellent piece advocating a more humane approach to mass migration, Clive Myrie notes the opportunity for this to be discussed at the forthcoming UN general assembly. Unfortunately, it has been reported that Rishi Sunak will be the first British prime minister in over a decade not to attend this annual event.
Michael Clayton
Emneth, Norfolk
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