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African nations are engaging in a race to secure the descendants of enslaved Africans from the transatlantic slave trade. Benin, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, and Sierra Leone have implemented citizenship pathways, aiming to leverage ancestral connections for tourism, investment, and lasting ties. Benin, for instance, invited Hollywood director Spike Lee to become a citizen and ambassador for the program.

This effort is rooted in historical facts: the West African coast was a primary departure point for millions of forcibly removed people. For descendants, citizenship represents more than a document—it symbolizes a formal restoration of a severed relationship. However, the economic benefits of these initiatives remain unproven. Only 1,213 people have received citizenship through the four programs since 2019, though the true count may be higher due to the absence of centralized data.

Consequently, there is limited evidence that these programs have generated substantial, ongoing investment. Despite this, diaspora communities can contribute capital, business networks, skills, tourism, and political connections. Ghana's "Year of Return" in 2019 demonstrated the potential by increasing tourism, leading the country to officially recognize its diaspora as a "17th region."

The African Union has prioritized reparations as a major political agenda item. The question now arises: should West African countries continue competing over this market? While the countries share a common history and a similar pool of potential returnees, investors, and tourists, their distinct rules, fees, ancestry requirements, and political rights create competition that could undermine the broader initiative.

Establishing a common framework for diaspora citizenship, residency, investment, and heritage tourism could enhance the region's credibility, streamline the process, and diminish the incentive for governments to outcompete each other.