East African ministers form committee on migration issue

Ministers in charge of immigration in East Africa on Thursday formed a committee to show commitment in addressing migration issues in the region.

Ministers from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a regional body bringing together Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda formed the committee as the highest level at which migrations issues can be discussed.

Previously migration issues have been discussed at the level of technocrats from each member country.

The move according to the IGAD Secretariat is also aimed at encouraging member countries to develop migration policies that are in line with the set-out regional migration framework.

The ministers argued that while migration has negative effects, it has also brought positive effects like contribution of the diaspora to the development of their country of origin through remittances, stimulating trade, investment, knowledge, skills and technology transfer.

The ministerial meeting, which is the first of its kind regarding migration, came in the wake of the worsening European Union (EU) refugee crisis. Many refugees who crossed the Mediterranean Sea to Europe are said to come from Africa.

Eritrea is said to be the leading source of migrants to Europe, followed by Somalia, Ethiopia and Nigeria. According to the EU border control agency Frontex, in 2015 alone, 108,000 Africans made their way illegally to Europe, representing an increase of 42 percent over 2014.

Migrants and refugees are also a big issue inside Africa. Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda are among the top refugee hosting countries in Africa. Most of the refugees are from within the eastern Africa region.

Apart from forced migration due to conflict and repression, there are migrations due to natural calamities and the seasonal mobility of agro-pastoralist communities within the region and those seeking better opportunities in Europe, the Middle East, the United States and South Africa. Endit