African Union Division for Labor, Employment and Migration Hosts Participants of the Second Africa – Europe Forum on Migration at the AUC offices in Addis Ababa
To gain a deeper understanding of the role of the African Union Commission (AUC) in migration governance, participants of the second African-Europe Forum on Migration visited the AUC headquarters in Addis Ababa for a learning and, knowledge and experience sharing session with the African Union Division for Labor, Employment and Migration on 20th March 2025. The division is headed by Mr. Sabelo Mbokazi. While receiving and welcoming the forum participants at the AUC office, Mr. Sabelo Mbokazi, noted that his division considered it a great opportunity to meet with the AACC-CCME delegation given AU’s strong recognition of the significant role of religion in migration management.
The delegation was led by the AACC (All Africa Conference of Churches) General Secretary General Secretary Rev. Dr. Fidon Mwombeki and CCME (Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe) moderator, Ms. Fiona Kendal. In her remarks, Ms. Fiona spelled out her commission’s commitment to human dignity and delight in joining efforts with the AACC to address the plight of migrants.
“We work with our member churches through evidence-based advocacy towards the protection of the human rights and welfare of all human beings irrespective of where they are or their status.” Affirmed Rev. Dr. Fidon Mwombeki.
Moderated by Dr. Gorden Simango, the Director for AACC’s Liaison Office at the AU, deliberations during the session focused on the progress, opportunities and challenges in the implementation of the African Union Migration Policy Framework for Africa and, the nature and significance of the churches’ accompaniment to the AU and other regional blocks. Other areas of engagements included the effectiveness of the AU led dialogues on labor migration and human mobility, Return, Re-admission and Reintegration of migrants, protecting legal pathways and information and intelligence exchange between Africa and other continents to help combat human trafficking and modern slavery. Mr. Sabelo and his team also shared about other initiatives they are engaging in such as the Joint Labor Migration Programme (JLMP), Africa Diplomatic Indaba (ADi), Khartoum Process, Migration governance, amongst others.
At the end of the insightful conversation, the AACC and CCME General Secretaries presented to the AU team the report on the desk study that AACC conducted on the challenges encountered by African Union member states in rectifying and implementing the protocol on free movement, right of residence and right of establishment.
In the photo: Group of the AACC-CCME delegation and staff of the African Union Division for Labor, Employment and Migration Infront of the Mandela Hall at the AU offices in Addis Ababa [Credit - Ssempaka Dickson]
