Australia is a country that has experienced a significant influx of African migrants over the last 10 years. Between 2007 and 2008, close to 11,000 people from sub-Saharan Africa arrived on the continent to settle permanently, with an additional 8,300 coming from North Africa/the Middle East (undistinguished in the immigration data). Between 2003 and 2007, approximately 30,000 Africans received humanitarian visas, arriving primarily from Sudan, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Sierra Leone. It is estimated that there are close to 9,000 African migrants currently studying in the country. The diaspora here is largely comprised of asylum seekers, in addition to a growing number of independent students and skilled migrants.
Australia’s relationship with Africa is a weak one though it is becoming increasingly strong due to a number of factors. With the exception of countries such as South Africa, whose relationship with Australia stretches back to the anti-apartheid movement, Australia’s political and economic involvement with Africa has been limited. The country maintains more meaningful diplomatic ties with its neighboring Asian countries, who have historically represented the bulk of migrants settling in Australia. Deliberate attempts at strengthening ties with Africa have recently been made. Bilateral friendships with countries such as Uganda have been in place for a number of years, allowing several students to study in Australian universities each year through the development scholarships program under Australia Aid (AusAID) for example. However, more recently, Tanzania has made appeals for agricultural as well as medical expertise from Australia. Diplomatic meetings held in seven African countries earlier this year also sought to make the Australian-African relationships more “constructive and pro-active,” though the move was criticized as a lobby tactic in the country’s UN Security Council bid. In addition, this financial year, the country is giving AU$115 million towards the continent’s development. Though it is delivering the same type of ‘problem-solving’ aid that is receiving sharp criticism today, it also has its own economic interests, the primary one being mining. In 2007, there were around 124 Australian mining companies operating in Africa. Australia’s trade and investments in Africa have revolved around mining and natural resources, particularly over the last 5 years.
The state of the African diaspora in Australia relies partly on Australia’s growing engagement with Africa, as well as the nation’s response to African immigrants in the country. There are some well-established national organizations such as the Australia’s Federation of African Communities Council and the Australia Africa Business Council, and many Africans continue to settle permanently under an attractive skilled migration program. Though the major Australian cities are designed around a ’multicultural’ model, the issue of discrimination and racial profiling against specific groups of Africans is one which has troubled the community in the recent past. However, more and more students and asylum seekers are crossing over into the Pacific, and the diaspora down under is establishing a strong and vibrant presence where it is actively involved in bridging the social and cultural gap between the continents.
Comments on this entry are closed.