Morocco's Migration Leadership Garners Acclaim at African Union Forum

Thursday 10 October 2024 - 09:50

At a recent forum in Addis Ababa, Morocco's contributions to shaping Africa's migration policies took center stage. The event, organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the African Union Commission, served as a platform to assess progress on the continent's migration challenges since the adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM) in 2018.

Minata Samate Cessouma, the African Union's Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development, emphasized Morocco's pivotal role in advancing Africa's migration policies. She specifically praised His Majesty King Mohammed VI for his leadership in spearheading migration initiatives across the continent.

At the heart of Morocco's involvement is the African Migration Observatory, a specialized technical office of the African Union based in Rabat. Established in 2018 and officially launched in December 2020, the observatory has become instrumental in tracking migration patterns, monitoring trends, and facilitating cooperation among African nations.

The observatory's mandate includes providing Africa with centralized, harmonized, and timely migration data to inform policy decisions and improve overall migration management. Its work has been crucial in identifying migration flows and patterns, addressing challenges such as human trafficking, irregular migration, and forced displacement.

The forum in Addis Ababa brought together representatives from all 54 African nations to review the progress made under the GCM, a United Nations framework designed to address the challenges and opportunities of global migration.

This recognition of Morocco's leadership in migration governance underscores the country's growing influence in shaping continental policies. As Africa continues to grapple with complex migration issues, Morocco's role in fostering cooperation and providing data-driven insights is likely to remain significant in the years to come.