From 19 to 21 February, AfricTivistes and six content producers from the Dialogue Migration platform took part in the 6th edition of the Harmattan Forum, organised by the Legal and Social Expertise Clinic (CEJUS) in Lomé, Togo. This event provided a platform to explore concrete solutions to Africa’s migration challenges, a major issue with ever-increasing statistics that frequently fuel debates. Organised in partnership with several organisations, including AfricTivistes, the event focused on the theme: “Migrations at the Service of Sustainable Development: Ensuring Human Dignity, Youth and Women’s Inclusion.”

The debate on migration issues has never been more present on a global scale. However, particularly in an African context, organising forums such as this can help shift the narrative to a more positive perspective and raise awareness, especially among young people, about the risks that are sometimes not worth taking.

“Today, the migration debate is often dominated by alarmist rhetoric, evoking an ‘invasion’ that threatens national identities. Yet, human mobility is not a temporary crisis; it is a historical, structural, and human reality,” introduced Dieudonné Kossi, Executive Director of CEJUS and initiator of the forum.

AfricTivistes, for its part, praised the relevance of such an event, which came at the right time, questioning the current narrative surrounding African migration. According to Laity Ndiaye, AfricTivistes’ Communications Officer and Editor-in-Chief of Dialogue Migration, African migration suffers from a negative representation that influences legislation and general perception.

“In 2022, AfricTivistes took up the issue of African migration through its project Dialogue Migration, which focuses on producing accurate, balanced, and human rights-respecting information. The project aims to contribute to changing the narrative by providing truthful and fair information that respects migrants’ rights,” he stated.

The event, held at the Confucius Centre of the University of Lomé, gathered students, authorities, stakeholders, and experts from around the world to discuss and exchange views on African migration. The Dialogue Migration team, well represented, actively participated in the programme by contributing and asking questions.

On the second day, Laity Ndiaye participated in a panel on the ethical challenges of digital technology in the migration context. He highlighted the challenges posed by the rise of digital platforms and social media, while also providing recommendations.

On the final day, Youssouf Haidara, a content producer from Niger, took part in a professional experience-sharing session for young people. During this interactive session with students, he shared his journey from his studies to his career as a journalist.

Ultimately, for the organisers of this now-established event at the University of Lomé, “The Harmattan Forum goes beyond a mere symposium.” It embodies an immense ambition carried by modest hands and their limited ressources, a melting pot where ideas take root and solutions for the future are shaped. Moreover, while the message continues to spread from Lomé, Dieudonné Kossi and the entire CEJUS team hope that this ideal of humanistic migration transcends Togolese borders. “This is a seed of hope sown here in Togo, with the aspiration that it will flourish and shine across Africa. It is a dream driven by our collective commitment to envisioning a future where migration is no longer a fate but a free and informed choice, free from constraints.”

On the sidelines of the forum, Abdoulaye Guene (IT Digital Support) and Laity Ndiaye conducted a workshop as part of the Dialogue Migration project deployment. This training was designed for six content producers from Senegal (Ndiémé Faye and Mamadou Diop), Niger (Youssouf Haïdara), Burkina Faso (Ndengar Masbé), Togo (Koffi Dzapkata), and Benin (Ange Banouwin). The session aimed to enhance the producers’ skills in digital tools essential to their work. It also provided an opportunity to present the project’s key objectives and train participants in best practices for cybersecurity.