Africans are being harassed the world over. They are denied entry visas to the outside world as much as possible. They are deported from every corner of the world. They are seen as the last race on earth. They are subjected to slave labor in the Gulf and in other parts of the world. Wherever blacks live in Asia, the Pacific, Latin America, Americas, Europe, etc both the ruling class and ignorant citizens consider blacks as third class citizens.
Overtly, Africans are sometimes given nice faces by these environments but covertly imbued with racism and discrimination. This is the general perspective of the black African races in the world. However, no matter how much the teeth bite the tongue, they still remain in the same mouth. And so, this is an interdependent world. After all, the world was built on African origin, African labor and African mineral resources. Having gone through slavery, colonialism, neocolonialism and centuries of racial discrimination, the Africans must now assume the life of an overcomer and be strong enough to be counted as equals to the Nations and Peoples of the world.
It is time for a new African immigration policy that will ensure a win-win situation between black Africans and those countries that linked racism with their immigration policies. Immigration has to do with issuance of visas, residency, work permits, citizenship, investments and so forth. Diplomacy which is the basis of relations between countries and governments, is based on the principles of reciprocity.
The trauma faced by Africans to access visas to the outside world and by those fleeing to Europe by the back way, the fact that residency and citizenship rights are denied to many black Africans, the fact that blacks are not allowed to have children in certain countries, the fact that Africans have been deported back to the continent and the trend continues indefinitely, etc, are all wake up calls for African governments to be united on adopting a common immigration policy that will ensure protection and serve the supreme interest of the continent and its people.
Africa should longer be free for all movements of peoples from outside the continent wherever they come from in the world. Look at the situation in this country where the business environment is dominated by foreigners. They have no mercy for the citizens other than making big money and shipping it out of the country.
Some of them have children with our women so that they can strengthen their stay in the country. Most of them bring in their own labor force as if our citizens deserve no employment. Our Embassies issue visas to all and sundry wishing to come to the country without much hindrances. It has been said that to get access to this country's documents is easier than most countries in the region. There is a massive influx of West African migrants into the country and Asians, all putting high pressures on our social services and paying little taxes.
We can see the changes in the population dynamics in this country. If immigration policies are so relaxed, one day a foreigner will ask to run for the leadership of the country. It will be a legal battle between citizenship and non-citizenship rights.The country needs a proactive foreign policy and Immigration policy which will protect and seek the National interest and enhance the welfare of citizens. If Trump says America first, why should we say Gambia last. The need for a new immigration policy cannot be overemphasized. The whole world is engaged in the review of relations between States and immigration policies. What is our country waiting for?
