by Christine Kerrigan

Created on: April 19, 2008   Last Updated: July 09, 2008

The African Brain Drain refers to the immigration of talented, educated, and the "brains" of Africa moving to different countries to pursue careers in other places than Africa. It is now being said that one third of professionals in Africa have left the continent to pursue and further their careers elsewhere. The causes of this soon to be crisis can be pin pointed to several key points.

First, there is a huge lack of economic growth that stretches across most African countries. At the same time there is a drastic increase in the poverty level. This is said to be a key reason why most professionals flee the African nations in pursuit of a better life in the West. Most of the continent has a rich get richer, poor get poorer mentality that very few newcomers fit into.

Second, political repression and a severe lack of freedom. This also serves as a driving force for most Africans to flee their home countries in search for a better, safer, and a life with less fear and more hope. Raging violence also continues to plague the continent varying from civil wars to guerrilla warfare. In both scenarios the lack of safety and security for both the educated and their children is extremely widespread.

Third, Poor health conditions and the rise in health hazards also accounts for some of the immigration. The growing number of professionals see the poor conditions in their countries but also see the improvement the health care field is making other places. This drives them to move to protect their families, especially from HIV and AIDS. On a continent where its leaders make public statements denying the facts that HIV leads to AIDS, this causes a great deal of concern from the educated population.

The African brain drain is said to have lost the African nations over 4 billion dollars in the past year and an estimated 23,000 educated individual flee the country and never return. But by fleeing they are improving their lives and securing their own futures. Some argue that the poor economic situation is a direct result from the fleeing professionals. But in retrospect the failing economy serves as the primary reason for the educated abandoning their roots and heading West.

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