Ministers and representatives from 40 countries¹ along with the African Union, the European Union and international organisations², jointly agreed on implementing the Cairo Action Plan. The plan includes addressing irregular migration, promoting skills mobility and pathways for regular migration, protecting refugees and displaced persons, fight against migrant smuggling and human trafficking, and safe, timely, dignified and effective return.
Hosted by the Arab Republic of Egypt on its formal turnover of the Khartoum Process Chairmanship to the French Republic, the event also marked the Process’ 10th anniversary. HE Dr Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates welcomed HE François-Noël Buffet, Minister of the Interior for France, EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner, African Union Commission for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development Acting Director Angela Martins, and ICMPD Director General Michael Spindelegger.
While migration is a complex issue, it offers a valuable opportunity to bolster development in countries of origin, transit, and destination when governed effectively. That is what the Khartoum Process truly represents.said Minister Abdelatty, as the Meeting adopted the Cairo Ministerial Declaration and Action Plan
The global [migration] dimension is becoming increasingly important, driven by technological developments as well as environmental factors. This makes cooperation more important than ever, even vital.Commissioner Brunner said
The delegates agreed to mainstream cross-cutting approaches and priorities in implementing the Cairo Ministerial Declaration, to further promote holistic governance of migration and managing forced displacement. These include a regional and whole-of-route approach that takes into account the patterns and trends in origin, transit and destination countries; inclusive and multi-stakeholder coordination; addressing vulnerabilities. As the strategic framework guiding the Khartoum Process, the Cairo Action Plan commits to align with evolving migration trends and regional dynamics, with the commitment to:
- Strengthen the nexus between regular migration, development, and addressing the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement;
- Promote regular migration and mobility, skills development and skills matching, pathways for regular migration, and mobility agreements, particularly for young people and women;
- Ensure international protection for refugees and forcibly displaced persons and respect for the dignity and rights of all migrants;
- Reduce and prevent irregular migration and fight against smuggling of migrants and human trafficking; and
- Strengthen international, regional and bilateral cooperation for safe, timely, dignified and effective return, readmission and for sustainable reintegration.
The Action Plan also takes a rights-based approach to respect, protect and uphold the [rights] and dignity of all people, including migrants, refugees and forcibly displaced persons, as well as victims of trafficking. The fight against racism, discrimination and xenophobia along the route is also highlighted, by promoting balanced and fact-based narratives on migration and diaspora that recognise their contributions to the development of countries of origin, transit and destination.
Together, we can create a future where migration enriches rather than diminishes, unites rather than divides, and fulfils rather than frustrates the aspirations of our peoples.said Ms Martins, echoing the messages of cooperation and commitment from the other keynote speakers
As incoming Chair of the Khartoum Process, France’s Minister Buffet emphasised continuity, pragmatism, and enhanced engagement, and its intention to strengthen synergies with the Rabat Process and encourage greater visibility and political ownership for the Khartoum Process moving forward. France’s priorities include strengthening civil registration systems, fighting disinformation on irregular migration, and combating trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants.
Our ambition is to deepen the dialogue and cooperation between our two continents. Together, we must write a future of mobility based on clear rules and balanced partnership—a source of shared prosperity that guarantees both security and opportunity.Minister Buffet said
The delegates celebrated the Khartoum Process for its wide range of focus on tackling irregular migration and trafficking, to broader issues such as return and reintegration, skills mobility, and climate-related displacement. Egypt’s outgoing Chairmanship was praised for its holistic approach and ambitious thematic agenda, which expanded cooperation into areas such as youth employment, the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, and regional integration.
ICMPD thanks and congratulates Egypt, for hosting this Ministerial Conference and for its strong leadership during its Chairmanship of the Khartoum Process; including negotiations of the Cairo Ministerial Declaration and Action Plan. Likewise, we warmly welcome the Chairmanship of the French Republic and look forward to sustaining the achievements made, and further deepening our collaboration.Mr Spindelegger said, reaffirming ICMPD’s commitment and support in the implementation of the new strategy as a neutral facilitator of dialogue
Since its inception in 2014, the Khartoum Process has served as a platform for political cooperation among countries on the migration route between Europe and the Horn of Africa. In November 2015, European and African Heads of State and Government gathered in Malta, to strengthen cooperation between the two continents through a political declaration underlining their concern regarding humanitarian consequences of irregular migration, to commit to improve the management of migration flows. It also established the Joint Valletta Action Plan (JVAP), a series of priorities aiming at enhancing migration governance between the two continents.
¹ Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Sudan, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, and Uganda. A full and more specific list of the members – including the Steering Committee, Secretariat, and partners – of the Khartoum Process is here.
² The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), and the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
![EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner highlighting the significance of stronger cooperation as global [migration] dimension is becoming increasingly important](https://www.icmpd.org/var/site/storage/images/_aliases/full/3/4/3/2/1242343-1-eng-GB/66729178d506-the-2nd-khartoum-process-ministerial-conference-4-.jpg){kind=link}
(left-right) ICMPD Director General Michael Spindelegger; EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner; HE Dr Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates; and Ms Angela Martins, Acting Director for the African Union Commission for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development