Bob Geldof: Europe can absorb African migrants
Matt Frei
Europe Editor and Presenter
The musician and campaigner Bob Geldof says Africans are leaving their continent because of political and economic turmoil and the desire for a better life.
Speaking to Channel 4 News about the 250,000 people who made perilous journeys across the Mediterranean to Europe last year, Geldof said: “We (Europe) can easily absorb that. These are escaping from political turmoil and from economic turmoil.
“The argument throughout Europe politically and nationally is migration causes huge problems, so you have to take that on board. Clearly the answer is to allow for these people to have a life in their own countries. No-one wants to leave their own country.”
Geldof co-founded the charity group Band Aid to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia in 1984, organising the Live Aid concerts the following year.
Better life
He told Europe Editor Matt Frei: “What African leaders are trying to do is build their economy… in order that people do have employment, that they can fulfil their lives. Clearly the significance of Africa is being felt through their migrants, that absolute desire for a better life. The way to achieve that is by doing what we do best, is seeing the potential of this opportunity here both for them and us.”
Bob Geldof said Europe was becoming “afraid”. Russian President Vladimir Putin was a “political gangster” and it was possible Greece would be forced to leave the euro and fall “into the arms of Putin”.