Rome, 24th March 2025 – “Never has it been more important for those working in the field of migration to stand in solidarity with one another and to advocate together to bring about change. However, in order to do that, we must first share insights and perspectives”.
So says Fiona Kendall, CCME moderator, representing FCEI at the second Africa Europe Ecumenical Forum on Migration held in Addis Ababa between 17th and 21st March. This ecumenical gathering, hosted jointly by the All Africa Council of Churches and the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe, brought together thirty delegates from eighteen countries across the two continents.
A carefully thought-out programme tackled themes such as climate change, externalization, and bilateral agreements between European and African countries, highlighting divergent and common approaches to each.
The week’s activities concluded with a formal meeting with representatives of the African Union at its headquarters in Addis Abeba. During a rich exchange, delegates heard in detail of the significant work being undertaken to develop migration policy and governance, embed safeguards for migrant workers, tackle human trafficking and track those who go missing in the Mediterranean Sea.
Notwithstanding the commonly-held belief in Europe that migrants are flooding towards the north, statistics show that 80% of those migrating from Africa migrate to another African country. Only 20% migrate to other parts of the world including the EU. Clear messages emerged from discussions: the deeply-held view among Africans that externalization is a negative growing trend which smacks of colonialism; bewilderment at the sums of money spent on attempting to return people to Africa when greater investment would create the opportunities needed to dissuade people from leaving in the first place; a strong desire for information-sharing and joint advocacy.
Mid-week, delegates were given the opportunity to see IOM’s[1] Returns Transit Centre and projects relating to migration being run by churches in Addis Ababa. These included raising awareness amongst young people as to the risks of irregular migration and rehabilitation and empowerment programmes for returnees.
Reported Kendall, “Whilst these projects were a stark reminder of just how close to the margins some people are living, they were, in equal measure, inspiring examples of the direct impact that the church can have in turning lives around. The high-level themes we were discussing do not exist in a vacuum: migration is about individuals, not concepts, and it is important never to lose sight of that.
For Forum participants, this was an opportunity to deepen understanding as well as to strengthen relations between the AACC and CCME. It is particularly important for those working on migration to be aware of different geographical and political perspectives and, indeed, to work together to advocate for change.”
For more information about that, see further the conference communiqué.[2]
[1] The International Organisation on Migration, a UN agency
[2] 2nd Africa-Europe Ecumenical Forum on Migration- Communique.pdf
