Ministers responsible for Labor, Home Affairs and East African Community Affairs, from the six EAC partner states have endorsed the establishment of the Regional Consultative Process on Migration.
The decision was reached during the second Regional Conference on establishment of the EAC-RCP on Migration which took place in Nairobi and also involved Directorates of Immigration from Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania and South-Sudan.
The agreement was also sent to the Council of Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs and Planning for approval.
The East African Regional Consultative Process on Immigration will reportedly enhance networking relations among relevant governments’ ministries, departments and agencies with migration-related mandates.
It targets to establish a platform for stakeholders for setting agenda as well as priorities and niches in migration in the region; enhance linkages and partnerships with the national, other regional, continental and global platforms among others.
The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Christophe Bazivamo, underscored the importance of establishing the regional consultative process on migration for the EAC which would complement the existing Forums of Ministers responsible for Labour and Employment and the Chiefs of Immigration that coordinate migration related matters.
“Establishment of the RCP will not only create a platform for Partner States to collectively consult on migration governance issues beyond labor but also offer a forum for multi-sector collaboration on migration matters,” he noted.
The Deputy Secretary General disclosed to the Ministers that the EAC, under the EAC Common Market Protocol, has registered several achievements in facilitating the movement of persons and labor for citizens to enjoy the benefits of integration.
Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, Republic of Kenya, Hon. Simon K. Chelugui, committed the Government of Kenya’s support in establishing an EAC – RCP as an important forum that will present members states an opportunity to share experiences of good labour migration governance practices and strategies to use in collecting labour migration data and information.
Regional East and the Horn of Africa Director of International Organization for Migration (IOM), Mr. Mohammed Abdiker, said the EAC-RCP once established, will be a critical step for the region towards a common approach in addressing migration in a holistic manner
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