4. Populations at risk of statelessness
The populations at risk of statelessness in West Africa fall broadly into three groups: a) those who
have migrated, whether voluntarily or forcibly, and their descendants; b) cross-border populations;
and c) vulnerable children — who of course become adults.
Box 4: A taxonomy of statelessness
Migrants
Historical migrants from before independence, and their descendants
Contemporary migrants stranded in another country
“Returnees” to a country of origin
Refugees, asylum seekers and former refugees
Cross border populations
Ethnic groups divided by international borders
Nomads
Those who live in zones where borders have been changed
Vulnerable children
Children born out of wedlock
Abandoned babies and orphans
Child workers
Trafficked children
Girls forced into marriage
4.1. The descendants of historical migrants
The first major political entities in West Africa were the great trading empires of what was known by
Arabs and Europeans as the “Sudan”, the land south of the Sahara. Trans-Saharan commerce and the
spread of the Muslim religion both promoted migration among the varied polities and ethnic groups
across the Sahel region. Specialist long-distance traders developed a distinctive economy; as did
migratory pastoralists, whose itinerant way of livelihood was well adapted to the exploitation of
marginal ecosystems of the region unsuited for settled agriculture. Conflict between communities, as
elsewhere in the world, also led to migration as those defeated moved to search new beginnings and
new livelihoods. The slave trade fed these conflicts, disrupted existing political arrangements, and
created new sources of population movement within the region as well as from the region to the
Americas.133
The period of European political control of West Africa from the late 19th century greatly increased
migration, especially within the contiguous French territories known as Afrique occidentale française
(AOF); but also between territories controlled by different colonial powers. For example, members of
the same ethnic group might cross the “international” border in order to evade imposition of taxes or
forced labour as these were progressively imposed (especially from French to British-controlled
territories). Improved transportation links both facilitated colonial requisitioning of labour for
133
For a range of perspectives, see the articles collected under “Africa” in Immanuel Ness (general editor),
Encyclopaedia of Global Human Migration, Wiley-Blackwell, 2013.
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