The African Union has urged stakeholders and development partners to frame and prioritize migration as a developmental agenda, free from securitization. The call was made during the start of the two-day (24-25 June) validation of a three-year implementation plan for the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) held online.

“Allow me to reiterate the philosophy and doctrine upon which the African Union Migration Agenda is premised. African Migration is a developmental issue not a security issue. In this regard, migration and human mobility in Africa should not be viewed as a problem to be solved, but a developmental opportunity to be harnessed,” said Mr. Sabelo Mbokazi, the Head of the Labour, Employment and Migration Division (LEMD).

During the validation of the three-year implementation plan for the GCM attended by over 20 Member States and more than 65 Senior migration experts and Senior Officials of AU Member States from across the continent, Mr. Sabelo stressed that AU Member States will harness full benefits of migration governance only when it is viewed through developmental lens.

“The Plan of Action on the GCM is an effort to harmonize the African contribution to the implementation of GCM,” said Mr. Sabelo Mbokazi.

It addresses implementation of the Migration Policy Framework for Africa (MPFA) and other current migration and human mobility policies and initiatives across the continent, and covers areas such as climate change, protection of vulnerable groups including children, and displacement issues.

The GCM, the first global dialogue and international cooperation framework on migration in history, will complement the already existing migration governance frameworks.

“The plan will also support prioritizing activities that reflect specific realities and needs of AU Members States,” said Dr. Japhet Lishomwa, STC Chair on Migration, Refugees, and IDPs and also Director General of Immigration Services, Republic of Zambia. He also called upon AU Member States to implement the Plan of Action for the GCM once adopted by relevant AU Decision making Organs.

The Global Compact on Migration adopted in Marrakech, in the Kingdom of Morocco in 2018 provides policy guidelines on how States can improve migration governance in their countries. It also provides guidance on areas of collaboration and cooperation among States to ensure human mobility is safe, orderly and regularly for socio-economic benefits. The AU has been active in the development and the implementation of the of GCM as guided by the Common Africa Position on GCM.

Given the current reality of African migration, including climate change, vulnerable groups, and displacement, a whole-of-government approach to migration governance will be realized through this GCM Implementation Plan for Africa. The plan will be submitted to the STC on Migration, Refugees and IDPs for consideration and adoption once the validation process by the senior officials is finalized.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Innocent Vuga | Communication & Knowledge Management Officer – JLMP | Labour, Employment and Migration Division, African Union Commission | Email: VugaI@africa-union.org

Sofonias Mebrate Bekele | Communication Assistant | | Labour, Employment and Migration Division, African Union Commission | Email: sofoniasm@africa-union.org

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