International Affairs Forum: What effects have returning migrants had on their countries of origin in Africa?  And, In particular, what kind of effects are associated with migrants from Cameroon?

Prof. Joseph Takougang: Generally, return migrants often bring financial resources and expertise in their respective areas of training to their home countries. For example, some return migrants teach at universities and other institutions of higher learning. Others work with NGOs and other economic and business entities. Many return migrants also use the financial resources amassed from overseas to start businesses back in Cameroon and in their respective countries, as is the case in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Nigeria.

IA Forum: Do you think returning migrants can contribute to the political discourse in Cameroon by wielding positions of power in government? Are there any challenges that might impede their progress?

Prof. Joseph Takougang: I doubt it. The political system in Cameroon is so well-entrenched in the hands of a small group of political elites, often home-grown and home-trained, that it is difficult for diaspora Cameroonians returning home to make an entrée into the political system. In fact, in many instances, return migrants are perceived as threats to the status-quo. In fact, many return migrants prefer to live a peaceful life while quietly engaged in their business activities.

IA Forum: Are initiatives being taken to attract Cameroon Diaspora back to Cameroon as part of an overall strategy for local development?

Prof. Joseph Takougang: I just published a book on Cameroon immigrants in the United States, and my research did not reveal any concerted effort in recruiting or attracting diaspora Cameroonians to return home as was the case in the early 1980s, when Cameroon’s economy was booming. Most of the development back home are the individual initiative of diaspora population who are interested in reinvesting back home or help in the development of their communities. For instance, many ethnic associations in the United States are providing computers to schools, building classrooms, health clinics, and bringing pipe-borne water systems to their communities.

IA Forum: Encouraging the diaspora to invest in their country of origin would seem beneficial to increasing trade between originating and destination countries.  What measures are being taken by African countries to do so?

Prof. Joseph Takougang: Many African countries are encouraging their diaspora population to not only send money home, but to invest in their home countries. For example, many countries have made it easier for financial institutions like Western Union and other similar financial agencies to establish themselves in towns, cities, and smaller payout posts in rural areas where family members and friends can receive money sent by relatives without necessarily going through the complicated and time-consuming process of banks. In fact, the World Bank reports that between 1990 and 2010, remittances to African countries quadrupled to

Read the rest of the interview and more in the latest issue of  International Affairs Forum, focusing on migration and statelessness, by clicking HERE.