Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 21 April 2015: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has expressed her deepest condolences to the families, relatives and friends of hundreds migrants who are reported to have drowned in the Mediterranean over the last two weeks. She is also dismayed at the continuous loss of lives in the Mediterranean where these migrants mostly from Africa are dying while trying to reach Europe.

Dr. Dlamini Zuma reiterates her call to Member States and partners to enhance their efforts in seeking a solution to these preventable tragedies as well as prosecute those involved in the unacceptable acts of human trafficking and smuggling of migrants, while underscoring that the problems of human trafficking and irregular migration cannot be solved by one country alone. It requires urgent regional and global action and the solutions must be comprehensive, durable, and holistic and must be situated in the context of poverty eradication, and sustainable development.

Dr. Dlamini Zuma appreciates all those involved in saving migrants’ lives, particularly the Italian government, and adds her voice to the clarion call for more dialogue and cooperation between Europe and Africa in addressing the legal and illegal migration in the short, medium and long-term.