Israeli High Court Outlaws Detention Centre for African Migrants

The Israeli high court on Monday, 22 September 2014 ordered for the closure of a detention facility for African migrants.

South African Immigration Chief Assures Zimbabweans over New Visa Rules

South Africa’s Immigration Director Apleni Mkuseni has sought to calm Zimbabwean migrants in the country regarding the new visa rules introduced in late May.

'Leave No One Behind:' Joining Hands in the Fight against Poverty in Kenya

17 October 2014, is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, which is to be commemorated at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York, USA. This calendar event has been observed for the past 21 years after the UN General Assembly earmarked it as a day to increase awareness on the importance of eradicating poverty and destitution worldwide

Council Established to Boost Investments by Kenyan Diaspora

The Kenyan government will soon form a council that will enhance the business activities of Kenyans in the diaspora and provide them with increased opportunities to reap additional benefits from their earnings in their countries of destination.

In Search of Happiness: The Link Between Migration, Economic Growth and Happiness

Are people happier when they move to another country? Migration and happiness hasn’t been studied much. The few available studies have concentrated mainly in the developed countries.

Monday 23 June 2014

The Charitable Contributions of Six African Footballers at the 2014 World Cup



The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil is in full gear and as expected, millions of fans across the globe have shifted their attention to the universe’s most glamorous tournament. The competition brings together the creme-de-la-crème of the football world from well-known football clubs in Europe with some of the best players, such as, Lionel Messi from Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal.

Africa has also produced some of the best footballers who have attracted worldwide approvals for their exploits on the pitch. At the club level, they play for some of the biggest football clubs in the world, such as, Manchester City, Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Barcelona. Despite their successes abroad, these sportsmen have not forgotten their African roots as evidenced by their contributions to the development of their homelands.

Balotelli was born in Siciliy, Italy to Ghanaian immigrants and at three years of age, he was adopted by Francesco and Silvia Balotelli who were Italian Jews. The Italian striker has been labelled a problem child due to his disciplinary problems on and off the field. However, Balotelli who angered many Ghanaians by deciding not to turn out for their national team — has another soft side as evidenced by his contributions towards many charitable activities. One of his charitable actions was contributing his wages towards the construction of a school in Cuey Machar, South Sudan in 2011. The AC Milan striker was touched by a moving film of Kon Kelei, a child soldier who surmounted the horrors of war to become a law graduate. Balotelli regularly monitors the progress of the pupils of the school he helped build.



Drogba spent much of his life in France but never lost the attachment to Cote d’Ivoire, his motherland. Currently playing for the Turkish football club Galatasaray, he is best known for playing for Chelsea as a striker between 2004 and 2012 where he won 3 English Premier League titles, 4 FA Cups, 2 League Cups as well as 1 UEFA Champions League title in 2012. He has also won the CAF African Footballer of the Year award twice. In 2006, he used his influence to broker a ceasefire between rebel fighters and the government in his country by advocating for an African Cup of Nations qualifier to be held in the rebel town of Bouake. His other contribution to his country include his donation of £3 million in 2009, garnered from an endorsement deal with Pepsi, which was used in the construction of a hospital in Abidjan, the capital city of Cote d’Ivoire. He was also appointed as one of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassadors. In addition, he established the Didier Drogba Foundation in 2007 that aimed to provide financial and material support in improving health and education for African people.


The Ghanaian midfielder currently plays for AC Milan in Italy and is the founder of the Michael Essien Foundation, which helps underprivileged Ghanaians access basic amenities, such as, healthcare services, public toilets, clean drinking water as well as education. In June 2013, Essien organised the ‘Game of Hope’ charity match in Accra, which sought to raise awareness on the need for peace. The match pitted African footballers against other famous footballers, such as, Michael Ballack from Germany and Djibril Cisse from France.



Eto’o played his debut international match for Cameroon in 1997 against Costa Rica. He currently plays for English football giants Chelsea and has previously played for other top clubs, such as, Barcelona (Spain) and Inter Milan (Italy) where he won the UEFA Champions League and league titles on both occasions. He has won the CAF African Footballer of the Year award a record four times and has been compared to the famous Roger Mila of Cameroon. Eto’o has been accused lately of being unpatriotic and egocentric due to his persistent wrangles with his country’s football association. However, these intrigues belies a man who has shown his love for the continent of his birth via the Samuel Eto’o Foundation that provides funds for improvement of healthcare services, education as well as promoting social inclusion through sports activities. The Cameroonian striker also holds Spanish citizenship, which he acquired in October 2007.



Kalou, also from Cote d’Ivoire, is currently a forward for the French football club, Lille but has played for clubs such as Feyenoord (2003-2006) in The Netherlands and Chelsea (2006-2007) in England. During his time playing with Feyenoord, he became a football sensation in the Netherlands so much so that the former Dutch national coach Marco van Basten once tried to have Kalou play for the national team as he saw the value and skill he had to offer to the team.  However, Dutch immigration officials rejected his naturalisation application despite receiving support from influential Dutch players such as Johan Cruyff and even after appealing the decision in 2005. The Netherlands loss would become the Ivorians’ gain as the striker has become a pivotal team member of this year’s World Cup. Away from the field, Kalou, alongside his brother Bonventure, is the co-founder of the Foundation Kalou that was instrumental in the setting up of a kidney dialysis facility in Boakye, Cote d’Ivoire. 

The Nigerian defender has been a mainstay of his national side since 1999. Currently owned by Fenerbahce football club in Turkey but playing on loan at Norwich City FC in England, Yobo has contributed immensely to the improvement of educational standards in Southern Nigeria. Through his Joseph Yobo Charity Foundation, he has enabled many underprivileged students in primary and tertiary schools to attain their academic dreams by awarding over 300 educational scholarships. Yobo has also set up a football academy to enable aspiring young footballers in Nigeria realise their full potential and become football superstars, just like him.

It is clear from the achievements of these and other African football players that they are not only engaging in their passion for football but also giving back to their society and country of origin.

Friday 6 June 2014

Council Established to Boost Investments by Kenyan diaspora



The Kenyan government will soon form a council that will enhance the business activities of Kenyans in the diaspora and provide them with increased opportunities to reap additional benefits from their earnings in their countries of destination. 

The National Diaspora Council of Kenya (NADICOK) — the name of the body being mooted — will lobby for the enactment and implementation of policies, which can assist Kenyans in the diaspora to run their business activities efficiently in Kenya as well as in the diaspora. According to Mr. Zachary Muturi, the Director for Diaspora and Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the council’s role would be to provide advisory information as well as formulate the necessary investment vehicles. 
 Mr. Muturi was speaking at the 2nd Annual Kenya Diaspora Trade and Investment Conference on Saturday 31 May 2014, convened by the Bank of Africa and Kenya’s embassy in France. Kenyan ambassador to France, Salma Ahmed, encouraged Kenyans in the diaspora to pay more attention to business ventures. 
Ambassador Ahmed also promised that the embassy would negotiate for special terms with commercial banks in the country to boost Kenyans who would wish to undertake business opportunities in France. Furthermore, the embassy promised to facilitate business transactions for Kenyans residing in France as well as other countries, such as, Portugal and Serbia. 
 
Ambassador Ahmed (centre) flanked by other participants at the 2nd Annual Kenya Diaspora Trade and Investment Forum  (Image Credit: geraldbaraza.blogspot.com)

The establishment of NADICOK is good news for the Kenyan diaspora, which has always perceived their government as one that pays little attention to their welfare. An article by Paul Kerre in January 2014 captures the dissatisfaction of Kenyans in the diaspora with their government. Key among their complaints is the frosty relations with Kenyan Foreign Missions in various countries, which they consider to be disinterested in matters affecting Kenyans living abroad, such as, domestic violence and suicide. According to Kerre, the diaspora feels that the government’s focus is dedicated to their remittances for investment purposes while ignoring other issues affecting them.

Kenya is one of the top remittance receiving countries in sub-Sahara Africa. According to the World Bank’s 2011 Migration and Remittances Factbook, the country received $1.8 billion worth of remittances in 2010; only Nigeria ($10 billion) and Sudan ($3.2 billion) received more remittances from their diaspora. Another study by the World Bank in 2010 titled, Remittances to Kenya, reveals that 32 per cent of the respondents interviewed use about half of the remittances received on daily expenses, such as, clothes, food, medicine and housing. 
Harnessing the Developmental Potential of Kenyans Living in the UK, a study conducted by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in 2010 revealed that 24 per cent of the 78 respondents interviewed had remitted money for investment purposes. Forty-two per cent of these investments had been unsuccessful whereas 46 per cent were successful. For those who had invested unsuccessfully, the most cited reason for unsuccessful investments was inability to access credit facilities (40%). 

Similarly, 40 per cent of the respondents stated that their investments failed because they did not have sufficient information regarding formal investment procedures in the country. Other challenges cited included poor management (33%), exorbitant expenses (27%) as well as inadequate infrastructure (26%). 


Do you think NADICOK will improve investment opportunities for Kenyans in the diaspora?