The shortcomings and scarcity of data on migration have limited the capacity of the African Union (AU) Member States to conceive coherent migration policies. 

Furthermore, the informal character of migratory movements, the porosity of borders and the complexity of the collection of data on human mobility at the continental level, going from and to Africa, have made the management of migratory movements very difficult.

 To this end, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union has committed to establish the African Migration Observatory, as an AU organ, to address the real and pressing need for Africa to generate knowledge and better understand the migration phenomenon.

Sankulleh Janko reports.