THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
To many people, it may come as a surprise that people decide to voluntarily leave the country to which they immigrated. However, the reality for migrants is that not all applications for asylum or residency are approved, leaving many in a situation where they have to consider leaving Germany. This is just one reason, why a total of 10,762 people decided to leave Germany through the government-assisted programme REAG/GARP in 2023 alone. In 2022, the number stood at 7.877.[1]
For many returnees, the first step is to talk to a return counsellor in one of the over 900 return counselling centres in Germany. These counsellors are entrusted with providing information to people who are thinking about returning to their country of origin, enabling them to make an informed decision.
This decision rarely comes easy as many migrants went through significant hardships to come to Germany. Together with their families, they made major financial investments to come to Germany in the first place. In some cases, opting for return may also mean giving up the dream of succeeding in a foreign country. Yet despite the difficulty of this decision, many opt for voluntary return as a safe, dignified and supported alternative.
Reflecting on his experience, Musa, a returnee from Germany to The Gambia, says: “You cannot stay in a country where you have no documents, you cannot work. This is one of the main reasons I came back.” Through a voluntary return programme, Musa received counselling and support to eventually return to The Gambia. Building on the skills and connections he developed in Germany, Musa is now working as a taxi driver. Soon, he plans on getting into the livestock business to make a better living for himself and his family.
Like in Musa’s case, some people may also decide to return to their country of origin because they wish to be close to their families. In Germany, they may be living outside of the family home and their familiar environment for the first time. Many miss the warmth and comfort of being surrounded by loved ones. In other cases, feelings of responsibility arise when migrants in Germany learn that their parents or other family members back home have fallen ill or passed away. The plan to start over in a new country collides with the desire to be with loved ones.
Sometimes people return because they want to start a family in their countries of origin. Jovid, a returnee to Tajikistan, shared: “I had a desire to stay but the family plays an important role in a person’s life, so I wanted to return and see my relatives. I returned, saw my family, and was glad that I returned. I also got married.”
Another significant subgroup among voluntary returnees are older people. Many older migrants living in Germany decide to retire in their countries of origin. Others wish to spend their remaining time surrounded by their loved ones. For people with special medical needs, return counselling sessions are the first step to ensure that adequate medical care is available in the countries of origin before a return is organized. Special transportation and support may also be provided for people with medical needs.
“I really missed my homeland” says Nana, a returnee to Georgia. Nana came to Germany in December 2017 and decided to return three years later via a voluntary return programme. “It is difficult to be alone at my age, coupled with being sick.” In addition to the feelings of loneliness, Nana struggled to learn German and, in her own words, to “communicate properly and integrate in the society.”
For some people, their stay in Germany was never meant to be permanent. Throughout their migration journey, they monitor the situation in their country of origin, waiting for conditions to improve. Once they do, many people choose to return.
Another factor influencing a migrant’s decision whether to stay in Germany is how they feel in the country. Building a solid community may ease some of the difficulties faced during migration. However, some reasons that sway people’s return decisions are impossible to change. For example, some people even mention Germany’s climate as a factor influencing their decision to return.
Occasionally, feeling disconnected from the community may be linked to more serious mental health issues, which can exacerbate the challenges of migrating and integrating into a new country (if this resonates with you, support is available, e.g. from Ipso). For Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BiPOC) migrants and refugees, growing concerns about racism and xenophobia occasionally lead to the decision to leave Germany (if you have experienced discrimination, the German Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency can support).
There are countless reasons why people choose to return to their countries of origin, and no case is like the other. If you or someone you know is considering a voluntary return, you can obtain free information from one of the more than 900 return counselling centers in Germany. Return counselling is confidential, unbiased, and non-binding. Attending a counselling session has no effect on your residence status or asylum procedure.
To find a return counselling center in your area, visit the information portal on voluntary return and reintegration.
This article is published in the framework of a project implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and co-financed by the EU’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).
[1] BAMF – Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge – Voluntary return
