Stakeholders Stress Enhanced Collaboration for Managing Migration, Sustainable Reintegration

Addis Ababa, February 19, 2025 (ENA) – Stakeholders who have deliberated on Khartoum Process Thematic Meeting today called for enhanced cooperation for managing migration, dignified returns and ensuring sustainable reintegration.

A two-day long Khartoum Process thematic meeting has been taking place in Addis Ababa with a  theme “Safe and Dignified Returns and Sustainable Reintegration: A Partnership Approach to Lasting Solutions for Returnees and their communities.”

Speaking at the occasion, Ethiopia's Foreign Affairs State Minister Mesganu Arga said that migration has become a hot political issue impacting the public and he added it is generating a passionate discussion, calling the need for enhanced management and collaboration. 

 

The state minister said that the thematic meeting is the right platform to enhance our joint undertaking.

“I am sure, we all agree that migration is an inevitable phenomenon and shared human character. However; a safe, orderly and legal migration is in the best interest of all. Khartoum process provides us with a unique platform for consultation, coordination and cooperation among countries along the migration routes between Africa and Europe,” the state minister pointed out.

Mesganu added that the process continues to contribute towards joint efforts in implementing a sustainable and successful migration management in the routes—combating human trafficking and migration, and promoting legal migration.

Effective return and re-integration demands cooperation between origin and destination countries that extend throughout the migration cycle, he said.

He reiterated that Ethiopia reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the safe and legal migration through migration friendly policies, legislations, and regional and cross border cooperation.

Khartoum Process Chairperson and Deputy Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Wael Badawi stated that Khartoum Process participating nations face significant challenges of managing returns and ensuring sustainable reintegration.

 

He noted cooperation between Africa and Europe has been pivotal in creating frameworks that ensure safe and dignified return process while addressing the reintegration needs of returnees.

In this regard, “the Khartoum Process thematic meeting is critical to exchange the best practices and experiences that are going to be shared in this meeting,”he said.

Humanitarian Affairs Division, Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development Head at the African Union Commission, Rita Amukhobu, reiterated that migration is one of the most pressing issues and global reality of our time that requires collective responsibility, shared commitment and strong sense of solidarity.

She stressed the need for reaffirming dedication to ensure that the returnees’ re-integration processes are carried out in a manner that is voluntary, safe, dignified and fully aligned with international human rights standards.

Beyond returning individuals to their places of origin, the restoration of the sense of belonging, economic security and social inclusion is critical to the sustainability of their return, she stated.

She emphasized that forced return does not only contravene with international principles but also poses risks to both the returnees and the stability of their communities.

 

Member states of the Khartoum Process must take the leading role in designing and implementing reintegration strategies that are effective, inclusive and embedded in broader national development plans, she underlined. 

In this respect, “AU remains fully committed to supporting its member states in their efforts; working closely with partnerships, regional and international organizations as well as development partners to ensure that returnees’ re-integration processes are not only well managed but also contribute to long-term stability and prosperity,” she reiterated.

On his part, Director General for Migration and Home Affairs of EU Commission, Robert Rybicki, on his part emphasized the importance of sustainable cooperation and partnership approaches solutions among countries along migration routes for migration management and lasting solution.

 

He expressed EU Commission’s commitment for its political and financial support for the process to address the challenges of migration.

“On behalf of the EU Commission, I want to underline again our political and financial support for this process to make sure that everything we do makes sense not only for us but also for our partners in different regions,” the director-general said.

The Khartoum Process is a platform for political cooperation amongst the countries along the migration route between the Horn of Africa and Europe.