AU, UN Migration Agency Advance Common Agenda on Safe Migration, Diaspora Engagement and Continental Mobility

Addis Ababa, September 22, 2026 (FMC) — African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and International Organization for Migration (IOM) Director General Amy Pope have advanced a common agenda on safe, orderly and regular migration, diaspora engagement and the movement of labour and skills across Africa.

The two officials met in New York on the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly to exchange views on migration governance, the protection of migrants’ rights and legal pathways for migration.

Chairperson Youssouf underscored the importance of strengthening AU-IOM cooperation to advance safe, orderly and regular migration, while promoting meaningful engagement of the African diaspora in Africa’s development and investment.

He highlighted opportunities for diaspora engagement in skills development, knowledge transfer and the retention of critical capacities on the continent.

Youssouf also highlighted the role of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in advancing regional economic integration, including through facilitating the movement of labour and skills across the continent.

The AU Commission Chairperson and Pope reaffirmed their shared commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of migrants and strengthening international cooperation on migration.