Socioeconomic costs of irregular migration for the region of origin of migrants: case of the municipality of Daloa

Irregular migration is a major challenge for sub-Saharan African countries, including Côte d'Ivoire. According to IOM (2018), 10,000 Ivorian migrants arrived irregularly in Italy in 2017. This places the country in third place in arrivals on the central Mediterranean route, after Nigeria and Guinea. The majority of the literature notes the costs of this tragic migration, or remittances, as well as the many benefits that migrants' countries of origin can derive once they settle. This article is intended to be a counterweight to previous contributions, by analysing the socio-economic costs of irregular migration on the country, in particular on the region of origin of migrants. To do this, we conducted a documentary review, supported by a qualitative survey using an interview guide among returning migrants and those who intend to leave for the municipality of Daloa. The study shows that the departure of irregular migrants is a heavy burden for the region of origin, for the family and for the migrant himself. The costs of departures are not only economic but also socio-economic, such as debt, labour shortages, job loss, brain drain and social stigma that impede socio-economic integration.