Egypt hosts 2nd Ministerial Conference of Khartoum Process to combat migrant smuggling, human trafficking

CAIRO – 9 April 2025: Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty on Wednesday opened the second Ministerial Conference of the Khartoum Process in Cairo, aimed at combating migrant smuggling and human trafficking.

Egypt has presided over the process since April 2024 with the aim of coordinating international efforts and addressing migration issues between the Mediterranean and the Horn of Africa.

The opening session featured participation from European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner, Acting Director for Social Development, Culture and Sport at the African Union Angela Martins, and Director General of the Vienna-based International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) Michael Spindelegger.

Representatives from nearly 50 countries in Europe and the Horn of Africa also participated in the event, alongside regional and international partner organizations.

 

In his opening remarks, Abdelatty highlighted the Khartoum Process Ministerial Conference as a unique platform for political cooperation, aiming to achieve tangible results through dialogue, knowledge exchange, and support in key migration areas.

He emphasized that Egypt’s chairmanship of the Khartoum Process twice in ten years reflects the country’s steadfast commitment to the principles of the process.

Through this presidency, Egypt sought to push the work of Khartoum Process towards broader and more ambitious horizons, he said.

Abdelatty stressed Egypt’s belief that addressing migration, particularly illegal migration, must be based on a comprehensive vision and approach rooted in equitable cooperation, practical solidarity, and respect for human dignity.

This approach must consider both the security and developmental aspects of migration, addresses its root causes, and adheres to the principle of burden and responsibility-sharing to enhance the resilience of host communities.

 

Additionally, Abdelatty highlighted the achievements of Egypt's presidency of the process over the past year, emphasizing the Egyptian efforts to build on previous successes while responding to new challenges.

He outlined the priorities of the Egyptian presidency, which include supporting regular migration pathways, enhancing labor mobility and skill development, and linking these to sustainable development initiatives.

The foreign minister underscored Egypt's significant focus on integrating humanitarian and developmental dimensions in addressing displacement crises, as well as the growing relationship between climate change, migration, and displacement.

Abdelatty showcased Egypt's ongoing efforts in the migration dossier, noting that the country is home to over 10 million foreigners, including migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers from 133 countries.

He affirmed that Egypt provides those guests with freedom of movement and access to all services akin to those available to Egyptian citizens, despite the increase in the number of new foreign arrivals.

 

The foreign minister underlined Egypt’s commitment to combating illegal migration through a comprehensive approach that addresses root causes, promotes legal pathways, supports inclusive sustainable development, enhances border management, and raises public awareness.

He stressed the importance of international cooperation and shared responsibility in addressing migration challenges within a collective framework.