The article “The Return of Afro-descendants to Africa: A Bridge Between History and Development Today” explores recent legal and symbolic movements that encourage the return of people of African descent, framing it as a way to harness memory, identity, and development. The case of Benin is highlighted: a law enacted in September 2024 allows adults proving their Sub-Saharan African ancestry (by genealogical documents or DNA test) to apply for Beninese nationality for a fee of USD 100. Ghana is also discussed, with its “Year of Return” initiative (2019) and policies around citizenship and residence rights for diaspora members. The article also addresses tensions arising from these returns: rising prices, economic disparities, land conflicts with local populations, and the risk of memorialization being instrumentalized. It suggests that more thoughtful policies — combining historical recognition, cultural diplomacy, and economic opportunity — could transform these returns into a genuine bridge between heritage and progress.

Governance, Migration, Diaspora, Pan-Africanism, Nationality

Modou Ndiaye's article highlights statelessness in West Africa, particularly in Senegal, where over a million people are stateless and hundreds of thousands at risk. This issue stems from legal gaps, discriminatory nationality policies, border changes, lack of awareness about civil registration, and the absence of automatic nationality transmission. The consequences are severe: lack of access to education, healthcare, and formal employment. The author calls for legislative reforms, modernization of civil registration, awareness campaigns, and the establishment of procedures to determine stateless status, in line with international conventions ratified by Senegal.

Human Rights, Discrimination, Nationality, Statelessness