Calls for durable and inclusive responses to the root causes of migration in the Horn of Africa were issued on Sunday April 20 during a high-level Forum convened in Nairobi.
The Annual Migration Conference, focused on Somalia, brought together policymakers, regional institutions, UN agencies, civil society groups, and academic representatives under the theme “Securing Sustainable Solutions for Migration in Somalia.” At the event, it was acknowledged that conflict, poverty, climate shocks, and fragile governance structures have continued to drive large-scale displacement and irregular migration from the country.
Emphasis was placed on the need for Somalia to lead its migration response strategies, with support from neighbouring states and international partners. Sustainable peace and development were identified by Somalia’s ambassador to Kenya, Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle, as prerequisites for reversing the trend of displacement. It was stated that short-term humanitarian interventions alone would be insufficient unless supported by broader socio-economic reforms and regional collaboration. Abdulle further highlighted that migration management must be locally owned to be truly effective and resilient.
Increased displacement linked to climate-related disasters, including floods and droughts, was cited by regional climate experts as a growing concern. Early warning systems and preventative planning were recommended by Mohamed Omar of IGAD’s Climate Prediction and Applications Center to mitigate future risks. Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration reiterated its commitment to assisting Somalia in adopting evidence-based and inclusive migration policies. According to the IOM’s Bisharo Ali Hussein, legal migration has been shown to support development through remittances and knowledge exchange, underscoring the importance of establishing governance frameworks that enable safe and regulated movement.