Why it's wrong
It frames the movement of African talent as a sign of failure, rather than part of a normal global pattern of skills mobility. It wrongly suggests this is unique to Africa, when talent moves across borders everywhere.
What's actually true
Countries such as India (18 million diaspora) and Mexico (11 million) have some of the largest populations living abroad, yet migration from these countries is rarely described as 'brain drain.' Worldwide there are 281 million international migrants reflecting a global labour market.
Don't say · Say instead
“The country is suffering from brain drain.”
“The country is experiencing talent mobility.”
When this might not apply
When a single sector — usually healthcare — loses staff faster than it can replace, that is a real workforce crisis worth naming. Frame the sector and the response, not the continent.