Bamako – On 10 December 2018, Mali joined of 150 countries to sign the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), which aims to address the challenges of international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner.

With more than 160,000 internally displaced persons (as of 31 July 2019), 19,193 migrants (Malians and non-Malians (15/08) in the country and 12,166 Malian returned migrants (from January 2018 to 15 August 2019), migration has become a critical issue in Mali.

To implement the GCM at the national level, the Ministry of Malians Abroad and for African Integration and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Mali organized a workshop on Thursday, August 15, in Ségou, Central Mali, to share knowledge and develop the country’s National Action Plan of the Global Compact for Migration.

The purpose of this workshop was to share the 23 objectives set out in the GCM with the various State and non-State actors, to develop a National Action Plan and a monitoring mechanism for its implementation.

“During its adoption in Marrakech, Mali clearly reaffirmed its support for the Global Compact with a view to improving migration governance, which will ensure stability and harmonious development in countries of origin, transit and destination. The objectives of the Global Compact are fully consistent with the priorities of the National Migration Policy (PONAM) adopted by the government in 2014,” said Amadou Koita, Minister of Malians Abroad. The PONAM aims to provide protection to Malian migrants and their family members, ensure respect for their rights while promoting their access to decent work and good social protection.

During this workshop, IOM reiterated the need to develop a strategy to address both regular and irregular migration.

“IOM welcomes this workshop, which should provide a clear outline of action for each of us to follow. Through my voice, IOM affirms its willingness to support the Malian Government through effective support and monitoring of the implementation of the actions of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration,” reassured Pascal Reyntjens, Chief of the IOM Mission in Mali.

Historically, Mali has been an important immigration and transit country, but also because of geographical, ecological, economic, security and social constraints, many Malians are on the move. People leave their communities to escape crime, violence, conflict, insecurity, natural disasters and environmental degradation, among other things.

Established in Mali in 1998, IOM works with the Malian Government to address the needs of the most vulnerable populations and key migration challenges, such as forced migration, irregular migration, human trafficking, mobility tracking and humanitarian border management. Through various projects, IOM provides humanitarian assistance to both international migrants and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

For more information please contact Seydou Tangara, Email: stangara@iom.int, Tel.: +22376 42 63 59.