Migrant Protection and Reintegration : Actors Review Sustainability Measures

Several persons are trapped annually along the Mediterranean Route as they undertake clandestine measures of travelling to other countries for varied reasons. In order to properly address the situation, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) with the support of the State and funding from the European Union launched in June 2017 an initiative aimed at giving another opportunity of growth to migrants returning to their home country. Known as the joint EU-OIM initiative for the protection and reintegration of migrants, the steering committee of the aforementioned programme met at the Ministry of External Relations (MINREX) on November 12, 2019 to review progress, challenges and lessons learnt while reflecting on strategies to ensure the sustainability of the initiative.

The interim Secretary General of MINREX, Abanchime Limangana presided on behalf of the Minister of External Relations the opening of deliberations for the third steering committee meeting in the presence of members of the diplomatic corps, administrative officials and representatives of civil society organisations. He stated that the 29-monthsold initiative and the positive outcome manifest government’s strong involvement in the programme. “Cameroon, while pleased to be one of the 14 target countries of this initiative, measures its challenges in order to reap the best possible dividends,” he stated.

The IOM Head of Mission in Cameroon, Dr Boubacar Seybou said “despite the challenges re...