Tighter EU migration policies drive young Egyptians to seek opportunities elsewhere in Africa

A growing number of ambitious young Egyptians are turning to other African countries for economic opportunities as Europe tightens its stance on irregular migration, Al Jazeera reports.

“While the Gulf and Europe have long been the main destinations, there’s now a noticeable shift southward toward certain African nations,” said Ayman Zohry, a migration expert and demographer at the American University in Cairo.

Official figures show the number of Egyptians living in non-Arab African countries rose from 46,000 in 2017 to 54,000 by 2021.

This trend follows the European Union’s increasingly strict migration policies. In recent years, the EU has signed controversial agreements with North African countries, including Egypt, to limit migration flows — despite repeated reports of migrant mistreatment.

South Africa is reportedly home to the largest share of Egyptian migrants in Africa, hosting around 85 percent of them, with Nigeria, Kenya, and Senegal also attracting Egyptian residents.

Egyptian businesses expanding across the continent have branched out into sectors like manufacturing, agricultural processing, and mining.

Still, despite promising opportunities and a generally more welcoming climate, migration to sub-Saharan Africa remains limited compared to the Gulf or Europe. Zohry attributes this partly to persistent negative stereotypes held by many North Africans about the rest of the continent.

Nevertheless, signs suggest Africa may gradually emerge as an alternative destination for young Egyptians seeking prospects beyond traditional migration routes.