The African Union is set to outdoor its Plan of Action for implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration. Being the first international policy framework that provides a clear migratory governance, the Global Compact when adopted will become the toolkit for member states of the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration. At its latest validation meeting of the draft implementation policy in Accra-Ghana, the African Union urged experts to fashion out the document in a manner that addresses Africa’s migration challenges
Each year, tens of thousands of migrants from Africa undertake highly risky and irregular migration journeys in search of greener pastures. The International Organization for Migration reports that in 2022 alone nearly 2,800 deaths and disappearances were recorded in relation to such journeys along the central Mediterranean and West African Atlantic zones.
To tackle this irregular migration across the continent, the African Union is seeking to leverage the United Nation’s Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration. With the action plan being evaluated in Accra-Ghana.
“This validation meeting of experts is a golden opportunity before us to fine tune the draft plan of action to enable it to reflect our collective aspirations. We need to look at this document in a most practical and pragmatic way. Since once adopted, we shall be tasked in Implementing it. In all this, we are guided by the pan African ideology that this process is an AU member, state driven process for African migrants by Africans: We are also guided by the understanding that migration is key to social and economic development benefiting migrants, countries of origin, transit and destination. Realization of these developmental benefits requires that migration must be managed in ways that promote some migration policies and practices at national, regional and continental levels”
Angela Martins , Director for Social Development, AUC
The International Organization for Migration says as consultations proceed on the way forward for tackling Africa’s migratory challenges, it is urging members states to equally learn best practices from other continents to tackle the crisis
“Today, we are granted the opportunity to ensure that the plan of action 2025 and 2028 is robust and reflective of the priorities and commitments of our member states. As we proceed with the validation, l urge us to keep keep in mind the importance of world government and society approach, the lessons learned, and good practices that could be replicated elsewhere, including beyond our continent”.
Fatou Diallo Ndiaye, Chief of Mission, International Organization for Migration – Ghana
Plan of Action for implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration is scheduled for adoption by the organs of the Africa union later this year
