The African Union Commission (AUC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have renewed their commitment to strengthen their strategic partnership and joint efforts to address migration challenges in Africa in an inaugural Principals’ Meeting at the AUC Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

AUC Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, H.E. Minata Samate Cessouma, representing AUC Chairperson H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat stressed the vital role collaboration between the AUC and IOM plays in addressing migration issues in Africa. She pointed out the significance of safe and orderly migration routes and their effects on economic viability and human prosperity.

“Juxtaposing African internal and external migration reaffirms significance of this occasion which underscores AU-IOM joint commitment to deepen cooperation to promote safe, dignified and regular migration across the continent,” said H.E. Minata Samate Cessouma. “The alignment of the migration priorities to the AU Agenda 2063 will be key to harnessing the potential of migration to benefit all segments of Africa’s society including, its diaspora, youth, women, and other vulnerable populations,” she added.

Migration remains one of the most pressing issues on the African continent, presenting both significant opportunities and complex challenges. As migration patterns continue to shift and evolve, institutional coordination and regional cooperation remain essential. The meeting between the AUC and IOM also addressed the importance of reinforcing partnerships with African Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to ensure coherent migration governance across borders.

“The AUC and IOM are great partners because our organizations have a similar vision, one in which see Africa realizes its vast potential, one that’s buoyed by Africa’s growing working-age population, the predominance of small and medium-sized enterprises and the continent’s rapid digital transformation,” said DG Pope. “Africa faces many difficult challenges, including conflict and climate change, but well-managed migration holds a powerful key to unlocking its future growth and prosperity.”

She stressed the importance of collaboration between the African Union Commission and IOM to harness Africa’s potential, tackle migration challenges, and achieve sustainable development, noting that this partnership can help unlock vast opportunities for the continent.

Anchored on the AU-IOM Cooperation Agreement signed in 2022, the partnership focuses on several critical migration governance areas, including the importance of migration data to inform policies, labour mobility for economic development, and ensuring migrant health and safety. Strengthening migration policies across the continent is key to achieving long-term stability and prosperity. These policies align with both the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the Migration Policy Framework for Africa (MPFA 2018-2030) emphasizing sustainable solutions that promote human dignity, economic opportunity, and environmental protection.

Key initiatives discussed included the renewal of the AU-IOM Cooperation Agreement and approval of the AU-IOM Joint Implementation Plan (2025-2027), support for the implementation of the AU Free Movement Protocol, expansion of the 2022 Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change (KDMECC) throughout the continent, and reinforcement of the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) Plan of Action for Africa.

Acknowledging the complex issues of instability, conflict, violence, climate change and disasters causing large-scale displacement in Africa, the meeting highlighted the necessity for stronger institutional and interagency humanitarian coordination and emphasized building partnerships between RECs and IOM.

The Meeting concluded with a communiqué committing to renewing the AU-IOM Cooperation Agreement, supporting the Joint Implementation Plan, engaging in joint fundraising, promoting regional migration and mobility cooperation, advocating for rights-based labour migration policies, and enhancing consistency in migration policies across governance levels.

“Never in the history of our two sister institutions has there been such a strong partnership, shared responsibility, and global solidarity,” said H.E. Samate, emphasizing this renewed alliance.

The AU and IOM have been partners since November 1998, when the AUC signed its first Cooperation Agreement with IOM. This relationship highlights a mutual commitment to promoting safe, orderly, and regular migration across Africa, addressing migration governance complexities, and fostering sustainable development through well-managed migration.