Somalia Joins IGAD Talks in Nairobi to Tackle Labour Migration and Job Creation

GOOBJOOG NEWS | NAIROBI: Somalia is participating in the 3rd Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Ministerial Conference on Labour, Employment, and Labour Migration, taking place in Nairobi from October 20 to 22, 2025. The meeting, themed “Improving Labour Migration and Mobility Governance for Prosperity in the IGAD Region,” brings together ministers and experts from the bloc’s eight member states.

The conference is reviewing progress made under the Djibouti Declaration on Labour, Employment, and Labour Migration, which outlines a regional framework for safe, fair, and managed labour mobility.

Somalia’s delegation is expected to underscore the country’s ongoing labour reforms and efforts to improve job opportunities for its young population, many of whom seek work abroad. Officials are also pushing for stronger protection of migrant workers, particularly along the East Africa–Middle East migration corridor, where thousands face exploitation and limited legal safeguards.

Labour migration is a major source of income for Somali families through remittances, yet irregular migration continues to pose significant humanitarian challenges. Over 3,400 migrants have died or gone missing along the Red Sea Route over the past decade, according to IGAD.

The Nairobi conference will also review IGAD’s Single Visa Initiative and interoperable ID system, which aim to simplify cross-border movement and promote trade, tourism, and labour mobility across the region.

On October 22, ministers will adopt recommendations developed by technical experts and launch the second phase of the “Support to Free Movement of Persons and Transhumance in the IGAD Region” (FMPT-II), a €15 million project funded by the European Union to promote safe and legal movement within the bloc.

IGAD officials said the initiative reflects the region’s growing commitment to creating decent jobs, protecting workers’ rights, and enhancing regional integration — priorities that Somalia hopes will translate into more sustainable livelihoods at home.