{
  "id": 1709193,
  "title": "Africans Back Free Movement, But Wary Of Immigration – Afrobarometer",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/africans-back-free-movement-but-wary-of-immigration-afrobarometer",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T12:19:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Guide Network",
    "slug": "daily-guide-network",
    "url": "https://dailyguidenetwork.com/africans-back-free-movement-but-wary-of-immigration-afrobarometer/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A majority of Africans support free movement across borders, but many are hesitant about immigrants settling in their countries, according to a new Afrobarometer 2026 report. The survey of 50,961 citizens in 38 nations, conducted in 2024-2025, reveals a contradiction: while 56% support regional mobility, 40% want governments to limit cross-border movement to protect citizens' jobs and opportunities.\n\nSupport for immigrants as neighbors is high at 77%, but majorities prefer fewer job seekers (64%) and refugees (70%). Views on the economic impact of immigrants are split: 45% believe they benefit the economy, while 44% say they harm it. Interestingly, higher education and skills correlate with lower support for admitting job seekers.\n\nOnly 23% find border-crossing for work or trade easy, while 63% find it difficult. Emigration is on the rise, with 45% of Africans considering leaving, 25% thinking about it \"a lot.\" This is a 7-point increase since 2016/2018, and highest among youth (32%) and highly educated individuals (31%). West Africans are nearly twice as likely as East and North Africans to consider emigrating.\n\nAmong those who would emigrate, 50% cite job search, and 29% economic hardship as reasons. Europe is the top destination at 32%, followed by North America at 28%. Only 22% would move within Africa or elsewhere, a decrease from 36% in 2016/2018.\n\nThe report also notes migration pressures in the Middle East, driven by recent hostilities in Lebanon and returns to Syria. In the Darién Gap, migration has nearly stopped. Despite the focus on specific routes, half of the world's 304 million international migrants live within their region.",
  "summary": "Ugochi Daniels A majority of Africans support the free movement of people across borders, but many are hesitant about immigrants coming into their own countries, according to Afrobarometer’s new Read More... The post Africans Back Free Movement, But Wary Of Immigration – Afrobarometer appeared first on DailyGuide Network .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}