COMESA and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) convened a two-day dialogue on the COMESA Free Movement Agenda and Stakeholders’ Validation Workshop in Kigali, Rwanda. The event focused on the “Draft Impact Assessment Report” on the economic and social benefits of free movement of labour and skills mobility within the region.
Participants included migration and trade experts from the 21 COMESA member states, alongside representatives from the African Union Commission, the European Union Delegation, the International Labour Organization (ILO) Regional Director for Southern Africa, and the Regional Director/Country Representative of the IOM.
The workshop was officially opened by Dr. Alexis Kabayiza, Chief Technical Advisor in the Ministry of Trade and Industry for Rwanda on August 26-27, 2024. He called on the participants to come up with recommendations to ensure the implementation of the free movement protocol for the benefit of the region.
“These bilateral and trilateral instruments are most welcome as they are in line with the principle of variable geometry and edge the Member States incrementally closer to realizing the full benefits inherent in free movement of factors of production within the Common Market,” Dr. Kabayiza stated.
Assistant Secretary General in charge of programmes, COMESA, Dr. Mohamed Kadah, emphasized the importance of the free movement protocol, noting that the region cannot achieve proper regional integration if factors of production, such as labour and capital, cannot move freely across borders.
He acknowledged the challenges posed by negative political sentiments toward migration, including xenophobic attacks, modern slavery, and the violation of migrants’ rights, particularly those of migrant workers. However, he stressed that an effective migration management system can lead to economic development and growth.
“Our ability to manage migration effectively also depends on having reliable migration data at both regional and national levels,” Dr Kadah said, announcing that the COMESA Council had decided to develop a regional migration database.
This database will link with existing regional and international databases, such as those of the IOM and the SADC Labour Migration Observatory.
Dr Kadah also highlighted the increase in bilateral agreements among member states, noting that as of August 2024, several agreements had been signed between countries like Burundi, Zambia, Rwanda, and Eswatini. These agreements, ranging from social protection to defence cooperation, reflect a positive impact on COMESA’s migration programme.
He commended Rwanda and Seychelles for fully implementing the free movement protocol by removing visa requirements for African citizens.
IOM Director Mme. Mariama Cisse noted that the dialogue presented a great opportunity for the COMESA Secretariat and member states to address challenges related to labour migration.
“Protocols on the free movement of persons, labour, services, rights of establishment, and residence were developed to create a true common market within the region,” she said.
She emphasized that the movement of people is central to regional integration, as it strengthens the political and cultural bonds within a region. Additionally, enabling the movement of people helps create opportunities in labour markets, particularly for the millions of youth entering the workforce each year.