Migration diplomacy drive unveiled

President Cyril Ramaphosa has revealed plans to deploy envoys across Africa and beyond to engage governments on migration after raising the issue directly with Kenyan President William Ruto during a state visit. The visit highlighted the tension increasingly shaping South Africa’s relations with the continent. The disclosure came during a visit intended to showcase closer economic ties between two of Africa’s most influential economies.

“We also addressed the issue of migration facing South Africa, which is not unique to us but an issue faced by many countries,” Ramaphosa said after bilateral talks at the Union Buildings. “I expressed to President Ruto that South Africans are not xenophobic.” Pressed later on whether Pretoria was considering a more formal diplomatic intervention, Ramaphosa revealed that South Africa would engage governments across the continent on migration. “There will be envoys going to African countries and around the world to address this migration issue we are facing.” The comments amounted to a rare public acknowledgement that migration has become a diplomatic issue as well as a domestic one.

For years, South Africa has positioned itself as a champion of African integration, freer movement and continental cooperation. Yet concerns about illegal migration, recurring outbreaks of anti-foreigner sentiment and growing unease among some African governments have exposed a widening gap between the ideals of integration and political realities. Throughout the day, Ramaphosa and Ruto championed deeper economic integration, easier movement of people, stronger regional value chains and greater cooperation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Yet migration repeatedly surfaced during discussions and questions from journalists.