THE Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Augustine Mahiga, has urged African Union (AU) member States to speak with one voice while addressing migration challenges in the continent.
In his keynote address while
representing the United Republic of Tanzania to the Regional Retreat on
Migration held in Shkhirat, Kingdom of Morocco, Dr Mahiga said the unity
on such a matter is pertinent as over the past decades, the combination
of domestic and international factors have led to an increase in
migration both in intensity and its complexity.
The Minister observed that massive
numbers of people are compelled to move from one area to another in
search for survival, better opportunities and protection. He said most
migration in Africa is within the continent.
“More than 80 per cent of African
migrants remain in the continent. According to the International Labour
Organisation (ILO), it is estimated that the number of labour immigrants
in the continent constituted one fifth of the global total and that by
2025, one in 10 Africans will live and work outside their countries of
origin,” he unveiled.
A communiqué made available to the
‘Daily News’ by Ambassador Innocent Shiyo of the Department of Regional
Cooperation from the ministry had it that the diplomat commended Morocco
for accepting the responsibility of organising ‘Migration Agenda’ on
behalf of Africa.
He warned the participants of the severity of the problem, urging them to share experiences by addressing the root causes.
Ambassador Mahiga pointed out such roots
as lack or little opportunities for economic growth and social
advancement in countries of residence; political and social exclusion,
discrimination, intolerance on political, cultural, ethnic, religious,
regional or ideological grounds.
The others, he said, were climate change, conflicts, wars, violation of human rights and inadequate governance.
Dr Mahiga said migration is a
cross-cutting issue that touches on development, hence urged the AU
member States to brainstorm and come up with concrete ideas on how to
integrate it at national and international level.
Commenting on the role of diaspora to
development, Minister Mahiga said the benefits of diaspora are always
seen in financial terms as they give back to their home countries
through remittances and informal financial flows.
He, however, noted that African Diaspora
has a big role to play in seeking solutions to problems affecting the
continent. Ambassador Mahiga noted that problems in Africa should be
seen as business opportunities by the diaspora, therefore, encouraged
them to set up their investments back home as that would change lives in
their countries.
He urged them to identify opportunities
in various sectors and exploit them. He remarked that while the African
Union Commission is preparing the ‘Common African Position on Global
Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration’, it is imperative for
the AU member States to provide their valuable contribution with the
view to improve the document that would be used in the intergovernmental
consultation and negotiations in New York in 2018.
The Minister also urged the AU partner States to implement all continental instruments in addressing the issues of migration
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