Global Voices Online

Reflecting on Senegal's drowned migrant crisis and migrations towards the West in general, Robert Sagna, the Mayor of Ziguinchor, Senegal blogs (Fr): “Developed countries (…) build quasi-impenetrable walls through “visas”. Visas (…) are not the right solution. (…) The youth from the South has chosen emigration. It is our responsibility to make sure that is not the only choice. Then let's make sure that migrations are not “chosen” but “organized” through a North-South dialogue. (…) Repression can never be a good durable solution, it makes things worse.”

“No Sarkozy! Immigration does not come from a vacuum,” says (Fr) Semett in a post on French interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy's immigration policies. “With centuries of merciless exploitation of subsaharan countries and a continuous transfer of their riches to the North, it is logical that the disinherited masses from Africa turn to Europe to recapture their goods (…) The colonization of Europe is imminent.”

” [French Interior Minister] Sarkozy's immigration law [CESEDA] passed in the French National Assembly! ” says (Fr) Aimafrica . “For a country like Mali, this could be the beginning of an economic catastrophy. France … after having looted our riches and our people, wants business as usual. She no longer wants our unskilled hands, just our most brilliant minds! … Our brothers who have been clandestine for years will remain in that state for life!”

Commenting on a recent tiff between French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy and Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade over France's new policy of “choosing its immigration,” Forum Realisance says (Fr): “Wade is dead on because it is evident that France wants its pick of the best of African elites and takes for granted that (…) immigrants lured in with promises of an Eldorado (…) receive very little in return (…) It is high time that France (…) change its backhanded segretationist policy towards Africa and accept a responsible partnership that encompasses respect for development in Africa rather than confining it (…) to a role of furnisher of raw materials, reservoir of labor, technicians and affordable intellectuals or simply to a role of docile market for exports.”

Generation Consciente, Une Autre Afrique asks (Fr) “What is France doing in Chad? In Africa?” and answers: “The day before yesterday, they waved the communist threat to explain France's presence in Africa. Yesterday Anglo-American jolts justified the need to stay. Today Islamist regimes peak their heads in and explain our presence. Tomorrow Chinese imperialism will be evoked.”

Seckasysteme would like to see (Fr) “a summit of West African heads of state so that clandestine emigration can be uprooted and so as to find a durable solution to the problem.” “Hundreds have died since the beginning of the year for having simply tried to escape misery,” continues the blogger. “Images are shocking of these corpses that even sharks don't want, floating on the ocean, that end up on Spanish shores.” He posts photos.

Generation Consciente, Une Autre Afrique posts (Fr) a list of French universities, centers, laboratories and other French institutions that specialize in the study of Africa.

Generation Consciente, Une Autre Afrique publishes (FR) a list of francophone journalists who cover Africa.

Djibrilkeita announces (FR) an upcoming forum on European cooperation with Africa to take place in Paris April 9. Panelists will mostly discuss Rwanda and Ivory Coast.