Migration crisis: A continental burden, not just South Africa, says Lamola

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola arguing that migration should instead be addressed through a comprehensive continental strategy tackling its root causes.. International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamolahas rejected calls to place allegations of xenophobia at the centre of the next African Union summit, arguing that migrationthat the issue should not be treated as a South African problem alone. Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria on Wednesday on South Africa’s foreign policy priorities and programmes, including migration,Lamolasaid the government welcomed the African Union’s longstanding decision to convene a continent-wide conference on migration.

His remarks followed the decision by the 49th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Executive Council not to discuss migration at the upcoming AU midterm review meeting. “The 25th AU Assembly, held in Johannesburg in 2015, called for an African migration conference to consider approaches to accelerate mobility and development within the continent while addressing the challenges posed by increased irregular migration and strengthening capacity to manage migration flows,” Lamola said. He said South Africa fully supports implementing that decision.