Angola, 31 March 2023 - From 30th to 31st March 2023 in Dundo, the capital of Lunda-Norte, Angola, The International Organization for Migration (IOM) supported a cross-border forum with the participation of 75 officials from Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The holding of this cross-border forum focused on the migratory flows between both countries, and represented an opportunity for an in-depth approach to issues of common interest.

The province of Lunda Norte (Dundo) in Angola, shares 770 km of border with DRC, to the North, Northeast and East, with four provinces of the DRC, namely Kassai, Kassai Central, Lualaba and Kwango.

Due to a lack of sufficient human and technological resources for the vast area’s surveillance needs, the border is constantly vulnerable to instances of irregular migration, smuggling and trafficking in persons (TiP).

The Cross-border Forum aimed to strengthen coordination and collaboration in combating Trafficking in Persons, and improve Migration Flows management within the border between Angola and DRC, as well as to share technical experiences and information between the respective Commissions of Migration Flows along the border.

The participants were also able to discuss better approaches to combating Trafficking in Persons along the common borders, dialogue on the National Reference Mechanism for the care of victims of TiP , and discuss the operational procedure/guidelines for cross-border migration management and provision of assistance to vulnerable migrants at point of entries between Angola and DRC.

The meeting ended with The National Director of Human Rights of Angola and the Ambassador of DRC in Angola signing and agreeing to a recommendations towards the formation of mixed teams for surveillance at the borders, inventorying the routes of clandestine crossings, drawing up a cross-border map, and a field visit to Chissanda border (Angola side) and Kamako border (DRC side).

The activity was a synergy of two Projects funded by USA Government namely the PRM-supported ARMP and JTIP , implemented by IOM Angola in collaboration with Ministry of Justices .

For more information please contact please contact Cláudia Victor clavictor@iom.int.