Migration from Former French Colonies in Africa: Impacts on France’s Security, Society, and Development

Discover the profound connections between France's colonial past, migration flows from Africa, and their lasting ripple effects on security, society, and development in this groundbreaking research paper. Authored by Lejla Ajdin and edited by G.M. Barbetta, this HDRI study dives deep into migration from former French colonies, focusing on Morocco and Niger to France, where immigrants comprise over 10% of the population.🌍✨

Our study examines how colonial histories shape today's migration patterns, influenced by stark contrasts in geography, politics, and socioeconomic realities between coastal Morocco (a French protectorate until 1956) and landlocked Niger (independent since 1960, now under military rule post-2023 coup). 🔍⚖️

Our main findings?

• 🎓 In both Morocco and Niger, high dropout rates, gender gaps, and climate-driven pressure on agriculture push young people, especially from rural areas, to look for opportunities abroad

• 🌍 Morocco has deepened its ties with the EU (43,000+ students in France, a free-trade agreement since 2000), while Niger has pivoted sharply toward Russia and Asia after the 2023 coup and uranium nationalization

• ⚠️ Migrants fill real gaps in French agriculture and hospitality, yet face unemployment rates more than double the national average, and a society where over 70% believe migrants are poorly integrated

Migration is both a development story and a political one.​

The full research:📥👇