19-07-2017, Geneva (Switzerland): The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental authority on development (IGAD), H.E Amb (Eng) Mahboub Maalim, contributed as a speaker to a workshop on Migration at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on July 19th following an invitation from the Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), H.E Amb William Lacy Swing.

Organized within the framework of the IOM International Dialogue on Migration (IDM), this workshop brought together IOM Members States and relevant stakeholders in view of exchanging on core aspects of the upcoming Global Compact 2018 for safe orderly and regular migration which stems from the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants of 2016.

Amb Maalim, along with other speakers at the high table, discussed and put forward recommendations for measures to reduce migrants’ vulnerabilities as stipulated by the organizers of the workshop titled “Understanding migrant vulnerabilities: A solution-based approach towards a global compact that reduces vulnerabilities and empowers migrants”.

IGAD Executive Secretary welcomed the New York Declaration and noted that IGAD region has been experiencing mobility of people for decades, but that the change lied in the “dangerous routes for migration occasioned by the rise of smuggling and trafficking cartels”.

Amb Maalim briefed the audience about the IGAD Regional Migration Framework which was adopted, the establishment of a dialogue process with the IGAD Regional Consultative Process on migration that “provides a platform for members States, countries of origin and destination to have dialogue and seek common solutions to the challenges of migration”, the establishment of National Coordination Mechanisms at country level.

He highlighted that Member States of IGAD had held “regional consultations on the Global Compact 2018 that will feed into the African consultation. He enumerated key points noted by IGAD Member States in the protection of migrants such as: respect of international norms, fight against racism and xenophobia, appropriate policy and legislation frameworks among others.
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06-07-2017, Djibouti (Djibouti): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) yesterday held the 2nd meeting of the Migration Coordination Group.co-chaired by the, Director of Agriculture and Administration Division-IGAD, Mr. Mohamed Moussa in his capacity as Acting Executive Secretary, and Counsellor Refugees and Migration in the Horn of Africa of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to Ethiopia, Mr. Simon Kreye.

This meeting saw the participation of representatives from Italy, Austria, France, and the Netherlands as well as representatives from the European Union, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), and the German Development Bank (KfW).

Mr. Mohamed Moussa noted the high level of participation from partners to the meeting whose main purpose was to update on the activities conducted and the progress made within the implementation of the IGAD Migration Programme.

Mr. Mohamed Moussa highlighted the special focus given to migration “which has both negative and positive impacts on our [IGAD] region”. He recalled the most recent activities such as the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and Refugee Meeting held on July 01 and 02, the commencement of the Negotiation on the Protocol on Free movement of Persons in the IGAD Region held on July 03 and 04.

Mr Moussa thanked the support provided by the development partners and encouraged many more to join.

Counsellor Simon Kreye also noted the very active implementation of the IGAD migration Programme and the high level commitment by Member States to the issue with the recent Summit on Durable Solutions for Somali Refugees held in march 2017 and the various Ministerial meetings.
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03-07-2017, Djibouti (Djibouti): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) this morning launched the Negotiations on IGAD Protocol on Free Movement of Persons during the opening session of the first consultative workshop in this matter in Djibouti under the chairmanship of the Ambassador of Ethiopia to Djibouti and Chair of the Committee of Ambassadors of IGAD, and in the presence of the Director of Health and Social Development-IGAD, and the Head of the European Delegation to Djibouti and IGAD.

01-07-2017, Djibouti (Djibouti): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) this morning opened a consultative workshop for IGAD Member States to deliberate on and adopt a common position on the United Nations Global Compact on Migration for safe, orderly, and regular migration and refugees under the chairmanship of the Ambassador of Ethiopia to Djibouti and Chair of the IGAD Committee of Ambassadors, and in the presence of the Acting Director of Health Social Development Directorate-IGAD, the Chief of Mission of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to Ethiopia, and the Chief of Population & Youth at the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

This two-day meeting, which is a follow up to the Pan African Forum on Migration held in Kampala (Uganda) in May 2017, is bringing together authorities of IGAD Member States with mandates relating to immigration, legal affairs, and legislative bodies along with partners and stakeholders such as IOM, UNECA, the German Development Agency (GIZ), the European Union, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The Ambassador of Ethiopia to Djibouti, H.E. Amb Shamebo Fitamo, in his opening remarks reminded the audience that the purpose of the meeting was to “consider the preparations and consultations towards the 2018 UN Conference on Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration”. He then expressed his hope that this workshop will give “the opportunity to interact and explore on the IGAD Common Position on Global Compact on Migration and the way foreword”.

Acting Director of Health & Social Development Directorate-IGAD, Ms Fathia Alwan, highlighted that IGAD was the first Regional Economic Community (REC) on the African continent to have developed a Regional Policy Framework which was adopted by the IGAD Council of Ministers in 2012. Ms Alwan also highlighted that IGAD developed a draft protocol of free movement of persons in the IGAD region “and is kick starting final rounds of negotiations between Member States”.

The Chief of Population & Youth at the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) also praised IGAD for being the first REC in Africa to be holding a follow up meeting to the Pan African Forum on Migration of Kampala held a month ago. He expressed his gratitude for being enabled to be interacting with Member States on the issue as they are the leaders of the process.

The Chief of Mission of IOM to Ethiopia, Ms Maureen Achieng, also took the opportunity to have some opening remarks before the agenda was adopted by the audience.

This consultative meeting is held with the expected output of an endorsed IGAD Common Position on the Global Compact.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 71/1 of 19 September 2016, entitled “New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants”, pronounced the launch of a process of intergovernmental negotiations intended to lead to the adoption of a global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration and refugees (Global Compact on Migration and Global Compact on Refugees) at an intergovernmental conference to be held in 2018 prior to the opening of the general debate of the 73rd session of the General Assembly.

IGAD has welcomed the timely initiative by the United Nations to set in motion a process to develop a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration to be considered for adoption at an intergovernmental conference on international migration in 2018.