Addis Ababa, 24 February 2020: The taskforce met on 20 February 2020 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Convened as a follow up to the September 2019, New York meeting that was held at the margins of the high-level General Debate of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, the meeting noted with concern the deplorable and deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in Libya.
The meeting that was chaired by H.E. Amira Elfadil, the Special Envoy of the Chairperson and Commissioner for Social Affairs, and attended by H.E. Zainab Ali Kotoko, Executive Secretary, Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA), the Head of the EU Delegation to the AU, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representatives to the AU, as well as representatives from relevant AU directorates, took stock of progress made by the taskforce in 2019 and deliberated on the emerging issues, including the situation of the Emergency Transit Mechanisms (ETM) established in Rwanda and Niger, status of the assisted voluntary humanitarian return program and failing humanitarian space as the conflict in Libya continues to rage on unimpeded.
The Special Envoy in her remarks reiterated the commitment of the taskforce exemplified in the bid to expand both the mandate and geographical coverage of the taskforce to include trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, as well as to cover the G5 Sahel region. She informed of the new Interdepartmental Taskforce on Libya created by the Peace and Security Department to coordinate AU response to the Libyan crisis, and emphasized need to fast-track reintegration initiatives for returnees from Libya as well as operationalization of the three AU migration centres in Morocco, Mali and Sudan approved by the just concluded Assembly of Heads of State in order to address challenges of inadequate migration data and information. Noting that the establishment of the ETMs in Rwanda and Niger was an expression of African solidarity that resonates to seeking African solutions to African problems. The meeting was also briefed on the establishment of the AU Contact Group to prepare for the planned Inter-Libyan Reconciliation Conference and for the deployment of the AU multi-dimensional observer mission to Libya, once a ceasefire agreement has been reached.
The Head of the EU Delegation to the AU on his part echoed the importance of the taskforce as a convergence of efforts to improve cooperation and highlighted the need for continued advocacy by the taskforce vis-à-vis the Libyan authorities to ensure access while aiming to put an end to the arbitrary detention system, establish shelter opportunities and improve the situation at the Gathering Departure Facility (GDF). He called for the need to strengthen activities aimed at supporting IDPs, migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers.
The UNHCR representative informed the meeting that 306 persons of concern had been evacuated to Rwanda since the establishment of the ETM. While more than 3,000 were evacuated to Niger. Noting that based on confirmed resettlement places from some countries, UNHCR is undertaking the necessary procedures though the process is inherently slow due to its complexity. He informed most evacuees needed more psychosocial support to deal with their post traumatic experiences sustained in Libya, and further highlighted the plight of about 2,000 Sudanese refugees in Niger that warrants immediate attention of the taskforce.
The meeting was appraised by IOM that about 630,000 migrants continued to be stranded in Libya and as of February 2020 approximately 50,000 stranded migrants had been assisted to return to their countries of origin since November 2017. IOM reported that continued limited access to detention centres and closure of Mitiga airport, as well as delayed issuance of exit visas and temporary travel documents impacts on the assisted voluntary humanitarian return program (AVHRP) as about 2,151 migrants continue to be held in various detention centres. Whereabouts of many migrants also continues to be unknown and the growing number of internally displaced persons warrants grave concern.
CISSA noted with concern that in spite of the current international efforts, arms continued to flow into Libya and that transfer of sophisticated weaponry to Libya will continue to dissuade the political process and increase risk of spirals to neighboring countries. The continued increased influx of migrants to Libya despite the ongoing conflict, reports of serious human right abuses and the presence of many illegal detention centres in Libya is worrisome, as organized criminal groups continue to exploit the situation and profiteer from the misery of many migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe. Resolving that the criminal economy was so huge and needed concerted and urgent attention to tackle human traffickers and migrant smugglers networks.
As part of the recommendations going forward, the taskforce agreed: 1) to fast-track holding of the taskforce senior officials’ meeting to deliberate on the next steps and expansion of the mandate of the taskforce; 2) undertake measures to resolve the complex situation of Sudanese refugees in Niger; 3) organize missions to Niger and Libya to assess the situation on ground as well as to ETM in Rwanda; 4) brief concerned Member States on the situation in Libya and engage with Libyan authorities with a view to facilitate assisted voluntary return program; and 5) engage in advocacy to prevent perilous journeys, improve access to migrants in detention centres and end to arbitrary system of detention, among others.
The taskforce also recommended working closely with the AU Interdepartmental Taskforce on Libya and other stakeholders including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and committed to remained seized with the matter.
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Beatram Okalany, Migration Expert, Social Affairs Department| African Union Commission | Email: OkalanyB@africa-union.org
For media inquiries please contact:
Esther Azaa Tankou | Head of Information Division | Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission | Tel: +251911361185 | E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org |
Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission | Tel: Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Ext: 2573| E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org |
