Guinea MIGRATION PROFILE Study on Migration Routes in West and Central Africa
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Guinea MIGRATION PROFILE Study on Migration Routes in West and Central Africa October 2017 1 Contents List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................ I List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................. I 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 2. Forced Migration/ Displacement .................................................................................................... 3 2.1. Refugees in Guinea ....................................................................................................................... 3 2.2. Refugees from Guinea .................................................................................................................. 4 2.3. Internal Displacement in Guinea .................................................................................................. 5 3. Regular/ Labour Migration .............................................................................................................. 6 3.1. Immigration ............................................................................................................................ 6 3.2. Emigration .............................................................................................................................. 6 4. Internal Migration ........................................................................................................................... 7 5. Irregular Migration .......................................................................................................................... 7 5.1. Human Smuggling .................................................................................................................. 8 5.2. Trafficking in Human Beings .................................................................................................. 8 6. Migrant’s Vulnerabilities and Protection Issues .............................................................................. 9 7. Relevant National Policies and Stakeholders ................................................................................ 11 References ............................................................................................................................................. 12 List of Figures Figure 1: Origin of Migrants in Guinea, 2015 .......................................................................................... 2 Figure 2: Destination of Migrants from Guinea, 2015 ............................................................................ 2 Figure 3: Total Population in Guinea by Age Group, 2015 ...................................................................... 3 Figure 4: Migrant Stock in Guinea by Age Group, 2015 .......................................................................... 3 List of Tables Table 1: Guinea Key Demographic and Development Indicators ........................................................... 1 Table 2: Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Guinea, mid-2016 ................................................................ 4 Table 3: Total population of concern in Guinea, April 2015 ................................................................... 4 Table 4: Guinea’s Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Country of Asylum, 2016 ....................................... 5 Table 5: Guinea’s Key Migration Policy Response ................................................................................. 12 I 1. Introduction The Republic of Guinea is a country located on the western coast of Africa. The country borders Guinea-Bissau and Senegal to the west, Mali to the north, Ivory Coast to the east, and Liberia and Sierra Leone to the south. Guinea has an estimated population of 12.4 million (CIA, 2017). Low commodity prices and the outbreak of the Ebola epidemic have affected Guinea’s economy adversely (World Bank, 2017b). Its Human Development Index (HDI) rating stands at 183 out of 188, with a low value of 0.414 (UNDP, 2016a). Despite the low ranking, unemployment of the Guinean population is at a low 1.8 per cent, while the youth unemployment rate is 1.2% (UNDP, 2016b). In the context of migration, Guinea is mostly a country of origin and transit. Political unrest in neighbouring countries results in the great variety of migrants in Guinea (see Figure 1). According to UN DESA (2015a), a total of 228,413 migrants (also including refugees) were living in Guinea in 2015. As visible, most of the migrants residing in Guinea come from one of its neighbours, namely 27% from Mali, 14% from Liberia, 12% from Senegal, 7% from Sierra Leone, 6% from Ivory Coast, and 5% from Guinea-Bissau (UN DESA, 2015a). Similarly, of Guinea's 426,941 emigrants (also inclusive of refugees) in 2015, most were to be found in its neighbouring countries; specifically, 22% of Guinea's emigrants live in Ivory Coast, 16% in Sierra Leone, 12% in Senegal, 9% in Liberia, and 4% in Mali (see Figure 2) (UN DESA, 2015a).1 According to UN DESA (2015a), moreover, 7% of Guinea's emigrants live in France, 4% in the United States, and 3% in Belgium. It is likely that historical ties and economic opportunities influence this decision. Table 1: Guinea Key Demographic and Development Indicators Indicator Guinea Total area, in sq kma 245,857 Population (2017), in milliona 12.413 Urban Population (2015), % of totalb 37.65 Population Growth Rate, annual %c 2.49 Ethnic Groupsa Fulani 33.9% Malinke 31.1% Susu 19.1% Other 15.9% 1 Note that migration statistics from UN DESA (2015a) illustrate mixed migration stocks and may include some, but not all, of refugees in/from a given country. For further information visit: http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/data/estimates2/estimates15.shtml 1 Human Development Index (2015), 0.414 country rank out of 188d 183 GDP Based on PPP per Capita, current international dollars per capita 1310.7 (2016)c Life Expectancy at Birth (2015), yearse 59.2 Unemployment (2015), % of labour forcee 1.8 Youth Unemployment (2015), % ages 15-24e 1.2 Multidimensional Poverty Headcount (2014), %e 73.8 Gini Coefficient (2010-2015)e 33.7 Foreign Direct Investment (net inflows, 2015), current USD millionc 85.00 Net Official Development Assistance Received (2015), current USD 538.45 millionc Personal Remittances Received (2016), current USD millionsc 0.096 Sources: a CIA, 2017; b World Bank, 2017a; c World Bank, 2017b; d UNDP, 2016a; e UNDP, 2016b Figure 1: Origin of Migrants in Guinea, 2015 Figure 2: Destination of Migrants from Guinea, 2015 Other Other Other Other Europe World Europe Africa 5% 7% 1% 5% Other United Other World States of Africa Côte 8% Mali America 16% 4% d'Ivoire 27% 22% France 7% Gambia Belgium 10% Liberia 3% 14% Mali Guinea- Liberia Sierra Senegal 4% Bissau 9% Leone 12% 5% Senegal 12% 16% Côte Sierra d'Ivoire Leone 6% 7% Source: UN DESA, 2015a. Source: UN DESA, 2015a. While comparing the population pyramids of the total Guinean population and the country's migrant stock, a difference is noticeable (Figure 3 and 4, respectively). Figure 3 is comprised of a common pyramid form, with the majority of the population centred at younger age groups and a minority in older age groups. Figure 4, on the other hand, shows a pear-shaped pyramid, with the centre laying in the younger- to middle-aged groups. The difference can be explained because regular migration for work purposes in Guinea is common; it is logical that most migrants in Guinea are of working age (UN DESA, 2015b). 2 Figure 3: Total Population in Guinea by Age Group, 2015 Figure 4: Migrant Stock in Guinea by Age Group, 2015 75+ 75+ 70-74 70-74 65-69 65-69 60-64 60-64 55-59 55-59 50-54 50-54 45-49 45-49 40-44 40-44 35-39 35-39 30-34 30-34 25-29 25-29 20-24 20-24 15-19 15-19 10-14 10-14 5-9 5-9 0-4 0-4 10 5 0 5 10 10 5 0 5 10 %Female %Male %Female %Male Source: UN DESA, 2015b Source: UN DESA, 2015b. 2. Forced Migration/ Displacement 2.1. Refugees in Guinea Guinea has hosted refugees from neighbouring countries in the past and continues to do so. Currently, the country hosts a relatively small group of refugees from Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire. Guinea is hosting approximately 9,000 people of concern (see Table 2 & Table 3) (UNHCR, 2015; UNHCR, 2017). Of Guinea's 9,004 refugees, a total of 6,754 are from Ivory Coast, 1,809 from Liberia, and 241 from Sierra Leone. Moreover, of the country's 194 asylum seekers, 90 are from Ivory Coast, 69 from Sierra Leone, and 26 from Liberia (UNHCR, 2017). However, data on the profiles of these refugees and asylum seekers is missing. The main cause of displacement, particularly for individuals from Liberia and Ivory Coast, is the aftermath of political unrest and armed conflicts in both countries. War ended in Liberia in 2003 (Conciliation Resources, n.d.). In the past, Guinea also hosted many Sierra Leoneans fleeing the civil war in their country (UNHCR, 2008); a peace agreement, though, to end the conflict in Sierra Leone was signed in 2002 (Conciliation Resources, n.d.). Generally, in Guinea, refugee statuses are recognized on an individual basis and not on a prima-facie basis (UNHCR, 2017). Also, it should be noted that, as most of the West African countries are faced with other challenges such as climate change, food security and poverty, it is likely to assume that these