Ethiopian ambassador commends IOM’s Horn of Africa Director for their efforts to curb irregular migration
Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Birtukan Ayano and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Regional Director for East and Horn of Africa, Mohammed Abdiker, met today, July 6, 2022, to discuss collaboration on matters related to migration management.
The duo held a lengthy conversation, during which ambassador Birtukan praised the IOM for cooperating closely with Ethiopia and consistently providing efforts to manage its migration.
“The government of Ethiopia gives priority to repatriating citizens in dire situations abroad and minimising the vicious cycles of irregular migration,” Birtukan said.
The ambassador highlighted Ethiopia’s strong desire to keep cooperating closely with IOM and other stakeholders in the same field.
She emphasized that Ethiopia required further assistance from the IOM to resolve the nation’s migration-related problems and help those returning build better lives for themselves.
Various regional issues including peace and security, drought, Covid-19, and natural disasters also addressed during the Assembly that was also attended by H.E. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
The two engaged in a prolonged discussion about Ethiopia’s potential leadership of the regional ministerial forum for the East and Horn of Africa to coordinate labour migration in the area, with both sides agreeing to further up cooperation.
