Guinea – Following the establishment of the high council of Guineans abroad on 11 September 2023 in Conakry – on 12 and 13 September 2023, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Guineans Living Abroad, through its Directorate General of Guineans living abroad, and in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), organized an unprecedented event to strengthen strategic collaboration with the Guinean diaspora which is a major driving force behind Guinea’s socio-economic development.

The event was chaired by Mr Kabèlè SOUMAH, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Guineans Living Abroad. It was attended by a number of high-level officials, and brought together the 53 presidents of the councils of Guineans living abroad, thus showing the predominant role of the Guinean diaspora on the global scene. The high council of Guineans living abroad is an advisory body to the Government, enabling the diaspora to advise and make recommendations as part of the development and implementation of the Government policy on management, promotion and protection of Guineans living abroad, and fostering their contribution to the socio-economic and cultural development of Guinea.

In his opening speech, the Secretary General strongly stressed the Government’s commitment to mobilising the diaspora for the socio-economic development of Guinea. He said: “This meeting, known as the Diaspora Forum, aims to lay solid and lasting foundations for a partnership between the Guinean Diaspora, the State and also private sector.”

Mr Juan José VILLA CHACON, Chief of Cooperation, Delegation of the European Union to Guinea, also emphasised the economic importance of the diaspora for the host countries: “The Diaspora is a major provider of skills and resources for countries of origin, as well as an important actor in the development of host countries.”

Ana Fonseca, IOM Chief of Mission, welcomed participants’ commitment to holding such a forum, wishing that “the recommendations from the technical discussions will guide future partnerships in favour of the Republic of Guinea”.

By aligning itself with global guidance, the Guinean Government, with the support of IOM and the EU, recognises and values the role of diasporas in global policies. The Global Compact for Migration (GCM) and the Dublin Declaration, adopted at the Global Irish Economic Forum in 2014, highlight diasporas as essential partners in development and humanitarian efforts, underlining their importance at the global level.

During these two days of fruitful exchanges, various panels discussed the strategic role of the Diaspora in Guinea’s economic development, opportunities for cultural and technological exchanges, collaboration between the diaspora and the private sector, mechanisms and guarantees to ensure protection and investment of the diaspora in the country and highlighting its contributions. These discussions were followed by interactive sessions which focused on the aspirations and challenges of this vital community. The closing ceremony was marked by the heartfelt speech of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Guineans Living Abroad, Dr Morissanda KOUYATÉ, who expressed his gratitude to all the participants, and also highlighted the newly appointed members of the High Council of Guineans living abroad.

This synergy between the Guinean Government, IOM and the EU aims to pave the way for a sustainable collaboration between Guinea and its diaspora. It reflects a long-term vision to establish a solid and mutually beneficial partnership. IOM provided technical and financial support to the Government for the organization of this forum, which was made possible thanks to dedicated funding from the EU, as part of the Migrant Protection, Return and Reintegration (MPRR) project under its technical support component.

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For more information, please contact:

Lucas CHANDELLIER, Media and Communications Officer. Email: lchandellier@iom.int