Migration Dialogue for Southern Africa (MIDSA)

Addressing Mixed and Irregular Migration in the SADC Region: Protection of the Unaccompanied Migrant Child

The third Ministerial-level Migration Dialogue for Southern Africa (MIDSA) was held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, from 7-9 July 2015. MIDSA was established in 2000, with the overall objective of facilitating dialogue and cooperation among SADC Member States and contributing to improved regional migration management.  MIDSA is a platform for migration to be discussed in an informal setting – identifying, shaping and working towards the achievement of shared goals. MIDSA further raises awareness on challenges and best practices, and has to date put different aspects of migration management on the agenda, including the protection of vulnerable migrants, refugees and asylum seekers travelling in mixed and irregular migratory flows.

The MIDSA 2015 Ministerial meeting addressed the topic of mixed and irregular migration, with a particular focus on protection of unaccompanied migrant children (UMC).

Ministers and Senior Officials responsible for immigration from all 15 SADC Member States participated in the meeting, representing: Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

A key outcome of the meeting was a Statement signed by SADC Ministers responsible for immigration endorsing the Regional Action Plan as a relevant and feasible framework to develop a common approach to respond to and address the challenges of irregular and mixed migration.

(For more information on MIDSA see under Programmes-Regional Cooperation)