By Benson Daniel
Across several African countries, citizens are showing strong support for greater trade and regional economic integration, while attitudes towards immigration and the free movement of people remain considerably more mixed.
Recent Afrobarometer surveys indicate that many Africans see fewer barriers to trade as beneficial to their economies. In Nigeria, for example, 80 per cent of respondents said the economy would benefit if the government made it easier to trade with other countries. Sixty eight per cent favoured open trade with countries worldwide, while 23 per cent preferred greater emphasis on trade with other African countries.
Similar support for trade openness has been recorded elsewhere. In South Africa, 61 per cent of citizens said it would be better for the economy if the government made international trade easier, compared with 37 per cent who preferred restrictions designed to protect domestic businesses.
The findings suggest that economic integration remains attractive to many Africans, particularly where greater access to regional and international markets could create opportunities for businesses, employment and investment.
However, support for the movement of people across borders is less consistent.
In Tanzania, 53 per cent of respondents supported allowing East Africans to move freely across borders for work and trade, while 44 per cent believed the government should restrict cross border movement. At the same time, 60 per cent viewed immigrants as beneficial to Tanzania’s economy.
Tunisia showed an even more divided picture. While 51 per cent supported free movement of North Africans across borders for work and trade, 46 per cent favoured restrictions. About 65 per cent of Tunisians also said migrants had a negative impact on the country’s economy.
Sierra Leone also illustrates the contrast. Two thirds of respondents supported free movement of West Africans for trade and employment, yet a significant proportion expressed reservations about immigration and the entry of foreign job seekers.
The differences highlight a central challenge facing Africa’s integration agenda. The African Continental Free Trade Area is designed to reduce barriers to trade and create a larger continental market, but the movement of people remains politically and socially sensitive in many countries.
For businesses, freer trade could provide access to larger markets and reduce the cost of moving goods across borders. It could also encourage investment by allowing companies to operate across several African economies more easily.
But governments continue to face concerns about employment, pressure on public services, border security and competition between local workers and foreign workers.
The debate is therefore increasingly centred on how African countries can encourage economic integration without ignoring legitimate concerns about migration management.
For the continent’s economic ambitions to succeed, analysts argue that trade liberalisation and improved movement of people will need to develop alongside stronger border management, employment creation and policies that ensure local communities benefit from regional integration.
The survey findings show that Africans are not necessarily opposed to integration. Instead, many appear to distinguish between the free movement of goods and opportunities for trade and the unrestricted movement of people.
That distinction could shape the next phase of Africa’s economic integration as governments attempt to turn the promise of a single continental market into practical benefits for businesses and citizens.
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