Pretoria: South Africa has expressed strong support for ongoing migration discussions within the African Union (AU), emphasizing the need for a continent-wide, coordinated response to tackle the root causes of irregular migration. International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola highlighted the importance of these engagements during a media briefing on the government's migration management approach, stressing the necessity for orderly, regular, and legal migration across Africa.

According to South African Government News Agency, Minister Lamola underscored South Africa's backing of high-level AU discussions, advocating for adherence to existing continental frameworks that promote coordinated migration management. The AU's Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Rights of Residence, and Rights of Establishment, adopted in 2018 under Agenda 2063, aims to facilitate a unified approach to migration, enhance border systems, and combat human trafficking.

Lamola further noted the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on the Facilitation of Movement of Persons, to which South Africa is a signatory, as a critical component of this strategy. However, more member states need to ratify the protocol for its operationalization. He emphasized South Africa's alignment with regional and continental frameworks, advocating for the legal, regular, and orderly movement of people.

The Minister highlighted the importance of respecting sovereign rights while addressing concerns over private individuals enforcing immigration laws. He stressed the need for lawful and humane handling of irregular migration, urging continued engagement with African countries to reinforce this principle.

Lamola called for AU discussions to address broader migration drivers, noting South Africa's high migrant inflow, both regular and irregular, and the migration pressures faced by North African countries. He urged a focus on economic challenges, governance, peace and security, and climate change as critical factors driving migration.

In discussing his recent visit to Ghana as President Cyril Ramaphosa's Special Envoy, Lamola dismissed claims of a rejected delegation, reaffirming the strong bilateral ties between South Africa and Ghana. He assured that law enforcement agencies are addressing violence associated with migration protests and incidents of impersonation.

Minister Lamola reiterated South Africa's commitment to enforcing immigration laws while working with African partners to ensure migration is managed in an orderly, humane, and lawful manner. The issue is slated for discussion during the upcoming African Union Executive Council meeting.