I know that Swiss asylum laws are very hard, and due to that, there aren't very many africans in Swiss cities. I read that Geneva has a high African population of 20'000, more than 10 per cent of the whole population. When I visited Geneva I also noticed the bigger amount of Africans compared to Zurich. Does anyone know, why there is such a big difference? I don't think Geneva has other asylum laws than Switzerland...
Thanks in advance

Well Geneva is in Switzerland, so the same laws will apply. However, Geneva is French speaking, which might make a difference to the desirability of living there. Of the Africans I've known, quite a few have spoken French, but none have spoken German.

I expect the more knowledgeable EFers will come up with all the other reasons.

Maybe it has something to do with accessibility ? Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to GVA. Maybe they are not refugees or asylum seekers, but just like any other foreigner, they are working as expats with family members ? Maybe as many African nations were once colonised by the French, the speak French and find GVA exciting ?

The women in Geneva are very pretty. And speak French. Go figure.

They are most likely from French-speaking Africa.So naturally they will choose the French-speaking part of Switzerland(La Suisse Romande)
rather than German-speaking Switzerland.

Also there is high unemployment in neighbouring France at present and
unemployment in Switzerland is lower than in France,so they believe that the pickings are better in Switzerland than in France.

As for the Turkish and Balkan immigrants.Most will choose German-speaking Switzerland rather than la Suisse Romande because many of
them can speak German rather than French and also there more historical
ties to Germany rather than France.

lot of africa is french speaking so most african asylum seekers go there, also the courts in geneva are more compassionate compared to the rest of switzerland

Asylum / protection is a federal issue, not cantonal. The Federal Administrative Court hears appeals.

i know from first hand experience geneva is more PC than the rest of the country with regard to assylum, regardless of whatever you link to.

Court hearings are also heard in Geneva. I know quite a few people from the BFM and have been directly involved in BFM ops, and I will assume I know a bit more than yourself, but of course, you might also!

It is simple. Geneva is part of the French "Communauté" . At the other hand, I know have my domicile (and office) in Glattbrugg, and here, the share of Africans is rather higher than in Geneva.

Now sorry, but Etihad Airways is in the Arab World and NOT in Black Africa. And if you are looking at Arab airline companies, Emirates flies into Zurich twice daily (A340/B777), and other Arab airlines operating into Zurich are Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, Tunis Air and Royal Air Maroc. But once again, they are not companies of Black Africa.

The map below shows you, in blue, the formerly French colonies and in light brown the Belgian Congo (Congo Léopoldville .... now Congo Kinshasa)




and that people who grew up with French prefer a French speaking city is relatively obvious

And since when is Switzerland strict with asylum seekers ? That would be a new one for me, I always thought we have the highest number of asylum seekers per capita, but I might be wrong. But it's exactly as outlined above, Germany has a lot of Turks and Ex-yugoslavians, somewhat similar to Swiss-German CH, whereas France has lots of Africans (Algerians, Moroccans and Sub-Sahara due to historical ties)

I assume that you also know more details about this asylum matter than I do, but let's at least tell what BFM means

www.bfm.admin.ch
Federal Office for Migration

And let's say it clearly that the system about asylum things is also a bit complicated for most natives ! I mean, Federal laws used by Cantonal authorities and interpreted by Cantonal courts, and Cantonal prisons doing the "Ausschaffungen". Anyway, necessary it may be but UGLY it is

Mmmm... look at all that red...

Anyway, although I was sworn to secrecy by my Uncle Bertrand who revealed this little nugget over a delicious omelette of quails' eggs and bacon last week, I can reveal that the reason so many Africans go to Geneva is this:

There is a tunnel that leads directly from Ouagadougou to a little house on the Avenue de Frontenex, from which the Africans emerge, after an arduous journey on foot of approximately six weeks, blinking and confused, whereupon they are granted Swiss residence permits in exchange for everything they own, including their hearts and corneas, which are exchanged for artificial ones, the real ones being collected in a large jar for purposes unknown, but probably quite sinister and certain to involve the Knights Templar.

That, and the fact that the inhabitants of Geneva speak a proper world language, and not the phlegmy throttled tones of cow shaggers and gold hoarders, accounts for the large number of Africans in the city.

I think that's what my Uncle said, anyway. I'd had a few G&Ts by that time...

The first part of what your dear uncle told you is certainly right, but that last part about language and stuff rather sounds like a conspiracy theory to me DB.

Geneva is the site of the European headquarters of the United Nations. That explains the high number of foreigners, Africans or otherwise.

Those from the RED countries here in Switzerland have a preference for Zurich

Also worth noting is the fact that the Germans withdrew (or were forced to withdraw) from Africa a long time before the French or British, and so their influence (and language) waned longer ago.

My happiest hours were spent sorting stamps from the colonies. I found a couple of the stock books recently and showed them to my children - the sheer disinterest was quite depressing.

I was in Vietnam last year - French will get you nowhere, but they make great omlettes and croissants. The coffee is a extraordinary mixture between the lousy way the Yanks brew it and a seriously good French roast.

In short, no it does not. The U.N. employs a relatively small number of upper class folks from around the globe, but it does not employ menial workers, waiters, minor commercial employees etc. Only a fairly small number of foreigners in Geneva are UN employed. They of course are important due to their purchasing power. Berne for example has the UPU, Lausanne the IOC, Zurich the FIFA and the Icehockey Union, Basel some banking chaps. Just to name a few.