Migrationsseminar: At genskabe et Vestafrika uden grænser

TIME: Monday, 24 October, 14.00-16.30

VENUE: Danish Institute for International Studies, Main Auditorium, Strandgade 71, ground floor, Christianshavn, 1401 Copenhagen K

TIME: Monday, 24 October, 14.00-16.30

VENUE: Danish Institute for International Studies, Main Auditorium, Strandgade 71, ground floor, Christianshavn, 1401 Copenhagen K

Historically, migrants have regarded West Africa as a sub-region of free movement. Independence has altered the traditionally borderless migration systems, while recent political and economic crises in formerly labor-importing countries of the sub-region have led to restricted regulations on migration and a series of expulsions.

This seminar will look closer at the functioning of the ECOWAS secretariat in a context of wavering political support, political instability, inter-state border disputes not to mention increased pressure for migration due to two decades of economic downfall.

The focus on migration will increase the understanding of the bottlenecks of an organization that during the first 25 years of existence was largely based on state-to-state relations, but where migration is transforming the traditional linguistic divide between countries that are themselves metamorphosing from immigrant-receiving to transit to migrant-sending countries.

Speakers:
Sanoh N’Fally is the Director of Free Movement for ECOWAS under the Office of the Commissioner of Trade, Customs and Free Movement. ECOWAS gathers 15 member countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo. Sanoh N’Fally is a national of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.

Cathrine Withol de Wenden is a Professor at Sciences Politiques in Paris. Her research focuses on the relationship between migration and politics, migration flows, migration policies and citizenship in Europe and in the rest of the world. She is the author of “The Borders and Boundaries of Mobility” in Antoine Pécoud & Paul de gutcheneire (eds), Migrations without Borders: A Global Perspective, (UNESCO/Berghahn, 2007) as well as Atlas of Migration in the World: Refugees or Voluntary Migrants (Autrement, 2005).

Anne Sofie Westh Olsen is a PhD Candidate at the Danish Institute for International Studies. Her current research covers West African migration, both in terms of intra-regional flows and return elite migrants. She is the author of the DIIS working paper Reconsidering West African Migration: Changing focus from European immigration to intra-regional flows.

Programme

14.00-14.15: Introduction; Anne Sofie Westh Olsen, PhD Candidate, DIIS

14.15-15.00: Challenges to ECOWAS Migration Management as well as Specific Field Perspectives; Sanoh N’Fally, Director of Free Movement, ECOWAS

15.00-15.15: Coffee Break

15.15-16.00: A Borderless West Africa from a Global Perspective; Cathrine Withol de Wenden, Senior Research Fellow, Sciences Politiques Paris

16.00-16.30: Open Discussion

Chair: Anne Sofie Westh Olsen, PhD Candidate, DIIS

This is the third of four seminars in the 2011 Migration Seminar Fall Series, The Politics of Deportation. Based on cutting-edge research and ongoing policy involvement, the seminars present current policy development as well as migrant responses and practices, questioning common sense assumptions and presenting new perspectives on deportation. For abstracts and information on forthcoming seminars, see www.diis.dk/sw109806.asp

The seminar will be held in English

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Please use the online registration form from the website no later than Friday, 21 October 2011 at 12.00 noon.

Please await confirmation by e-mail from DIIS for participation.