(Ecofin Agency) - A tragedy. Quite shameful! This is how Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara qualified the clandestine immigration of Africans to Europe. “What is happening with young people who find themselves in the Mediterranean graveyard is unacceptable”, he declared yesterday, 28 August 2015, at the Amitié Stadium in Libreville, Gabon.

Shortly after the official launch of the New York Forum Africa, Presidents Ali Bongo of Gabon and Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire, in discussions with Richard Attias, founder of the New York Forum Institute, exchanged with participants on their current actions and issues. Among the topics addressed were employment and immigration of young Africans in Europe with a particular focus on the tragedy taking place in the Mediterranean. A topic on which Alassane Ouattara talked at length.

One of the causes of this disaster is according to him, the death of Colonel Kadhafi and the Libyan crisis. “Many heads of state hold the view that, where exile from Africa is concerned, the Libyan crisis has had a great and terrible impact, since there is no state in Libya anymore. And this has facilitated the departure of many Africans particularly West Africans, who pass through Libya to reach Europe” claimed the Ivorian President. “But, he says, the issue is broader and our African leaders will have to take their responsibility. For countries that perform well, there are few nationals abroad. Until very recently, Côte d’Ivoire was not faced with this kind of question. But, the crisis and war we experienced meant a lot of people sought refuge in other countries for their safety and to have some possibilities of progressing and above all, I would simply say to live in peace.”