“Khartoum Process” issues the Cairo 2nd Ministerial Statement

Egypt Daily News – The activities of the second ministerial meeting of the “Khartoum Process” concluded under the chairmanship of Dr. Badr Abdel Aty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration, and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs. The meeting culminated in the adoption of the “Cairo Ministerial Declaration,” which highlights the key achievements of the operation since its launch.

The “Cairo Action Plan” was also approved, which serves as a strategic document outlining the general framework for the subsequent presidencies of the Khartoum Operation, marking the first time such a plan has been adopted since the process inception.

Here are the main points of the Cairo Ministerial Declaration:

1. We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Labor, Justice, Migration and Integration, Diaspora Affairs, and other ministers concerned with migration issues in the participating countries of the Khartoum Process—Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Sudan, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uganda—along with the European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, senior representatives from the European Commission, the European External Action Service, the African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development, senior representatives from the African Union Commission, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as well as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
2. Meeting in Cairo on April 9, 2025, for the second ministerial conference of the Khartoum Process, invited by the Arab Republic of Egypt, to assess the progress made under the Khartoum Process over the past ten years and discuss the future of this important political platform for consultation and coordination on migration.
3. Expressing gratitude to the Egyptian presidency for its timely initiative, leadership, and support in hosting this ministerial conference.
4. Acknowledging the major developments in the Khartoum Process region since the first ministerial conference in 2014, which resulted in the Rome Declaration, and since the senior officials’ meeting on the Valletta Action Plan in 2018, which have had a direct and tangible impact on migration flows in the region.
5. Recognizing and appreciating the contributions of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) to the process since its establishment.
6. Acknowledging that migration issues, forced displacement, and international protection should be addressed in accordance with relevant international law, as outlined, among other things, in the United Nations treaties, including the 1951 Refugee Convention, as well as related African, European, regional, and national regulations and instruments.
7. Recognizing the existing political frameworks and instruments that guide migration governance at the national, regional, and international levels, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted in September 2015, and the African Union Agenda 2063 adopted in January 2015.
8. Recalling the key commitments agreed upon by European and African leaders at the sixth EU-Africa Summit on February 17, 2022, particularly regarding an enhanced, mutual partnership on migration and mobility, and related regional political frameworks on migration; including the Samoa Agreement signed on November 15, 2023, and the EU Migration and Asylum Pact adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU in May 2024, and their importance to migration cooperation platforms such as the Khartoum Process.
9. Taking into account the adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration and the Global Compact on Refugees in December 2018 by most of the partner states and institutions, reflecting the determination of participating countries to strengthen migration governance and international protection systems, with full respect for national competences and the legal framework at both the African and European levels.
10. Recognizing the impact of climate change, pandemics, and global health emergencies on human movement, especially migrants, refugees, and forcibly displaced persons in vulnerable situations.
11. Expressing concern over the consequences of protracted crises, conflicts, and wars on forced displacement and irregular migration movements.

We have agreed on the following:

12. Expressing satisfaction with the significant achievements of the Khartoum Process as a platform for political dialogue, cooperation, knowledge exchange, and support in the field of migration, highlighting the importance of the regional dimension in addressing the challenges arising from mixed migration flows of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, forcibly displaced persons, and victims of human trafficking across countries of origin, transit, and destination between the Horn of Africa and Europe, as well as those related to the return and reintegration of irregular migrants.
13. Recognizing the potential mutual benefits of safe, orderly, and regular migration and legal mobility pathways for both continents, with full respect for national competences and capacities.
14. Confirming our commitment to adopting an effective, inclusive, responsible, and coordinated approach through the implementation of planned migration and good governance to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration, while continuing efforts to reduce and prevent irregular migration and combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking, in full adherence to international obligations and respect for national competences.
15. Reaffirming the commitments made under the Khartoum Process for the effective implementation of the Valletta Joint Action Plan (JVAP) and our commitment to the principles of solidarity, cooperation, and burden-sharing in joint efforts to address migration and forced displacement issues, with full respect for human rights.
16. Encouraging synergy and complementarity in our activities and adopting joint initiatives with the Rabat Process to exchange best practices on issues of common concern.
17. Emphasizing the importance of addressing the multiple root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement in a sustainable manner, including conflicts, instability, structural migration drivers, food insecurity, natural disasters, environmental degradation, and climate change, and the importance of reducing their impact in the most affected regions, while considering the needs of people in vulnerable situations and adopting a gender-sensitive and age-sensitive approach.
18. Emphasizing, in this regard, the need to continue supporting the capacity-building of countries of origin, transit, and destination, ensuring that our activities are aligned with national, regional, and continental development strategies, including increased attention to women, youth, and migrants as drivers of change.
19. Recognizing that regular migrants and expatriates contribute to the sustainable development of countries of origin, transit, and destination within a win-win partnership approach, and the importance of promoting and supporting balanced, accurate, evidence-based narratives about migration.
20. Acknowledging the importance of enhancing existing pathways for regular migration, particularly through bilateral and regional partnerships for mobility and circular migration programs, including language and vocational training programs. These partnerships should use mutually beneficial systems for the mobility of skills while avoiding brain drain and respecting national competences and priorities.
21. Reaffirming the need, in accordance with international law, to ensure adequate protection of the human rights of all migrants, as well as ensuring appropriate treatment of people in vulnerable situations and providing appropriate access to international protection for refugees and other forcibly displaced persons.
22. Welcoming the numerous efforts made and the commitments undertaken by Khartoum Process partner countries to reduce and prevent irregular migration, combat migrant smuggling, and human trafficking, with an awareness that this requires a coordinated approach covering the entire migration pathway, and emphasizing the need to strengthen international cooperation and support to dismantle criminal networks and protect victims, through various initiatives such as the Global Alliance Against Migrant Smuggling.
23. Highlighting the importance of strengthening cooperation on safe, effective, and timely return, readmission, and sustainable reintegration, which preserves dignity, as a key component of migration policies, in accordance with international obligations and bilateral agreements, the principle of non-refoulement, and full respect for human rights.
24. Reaffirming our individual and collective commitment to the Khartoum Process, its principles and goals, and the importance of highlighting the fundamental spirit of partnership and trust-building, given its contributions to regional and bilateral cooperation.
25. Recalling the commitments made at the first ministerial conference and the importance of the 2014 Rome Declaration, as well as the importance of keeping this process updated and relevant to the evolving challenges and trends in migration.
26. Reaffirming our desire to work in a balanced and integrated manner across all five areas of the Valletta Joint Action Plan (JVAP) to achieve practical outcomes, with full respect for national competences.
27. Adopting the attached Cairo Action Plan as a strategic framework for the Khartoum Process and committing to translating this plan into actionable activities, ensuring alignment with the evolving migration patterns and regional dynamics under the leadership of successive presidencies.
28. Deciding to hold regular ministerial meetings to review the periodic reports endorsed by senior officials to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Cairo Action Plan on a regular basis, to ensure progress toward achieving its goals.