Borama (SLpost)- Senior officials from the Government of Somaliland, alongside international development partners, have gathered in the western city of Borama for a two-day strategic meeting of the Somaliland Mixed Migration Task Force (MMTF) aimed at enhancing coordination on migration governance, protecting migrants’ rights, and addressing the evolving challenges posed by mixed migration across the country.
The Somaliland Mixed Migration Task Force (MMTF) is a joint coordination platform led by the government alongside international agencies like the UNHCR and IOM to manage complex population movements. It brings together over 15 governmental and non-governmental entities to address protection and policy needs.
The meeting brings together Director Generals and senior representatives from key government ministries and national institutions with responsibilities related to migration, border management, humanitarian affairs, and human rights. The gathering represents one of Somaliland’s most significant inter-agency platforms for discussing migration policy and institutional cooperation.
The two-day forum is designed to deepen collaboration among government institutions, improve information sharing, and develop coordinated responses to the increasingly complex dynamics of mixed migration, which includes refugees, asylum seekers, labor migrants, victims of trafficking, and other vulnerable populations traveling through the same migration routes.
Participants include senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Resettlement and Humanitarian Affairs, Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Employment, Social Affairs and Family. Representatives from the Somaliland Human Rights Commission and the Somaliland Immigration and Border Control are also taking part in the discussions.
International organizations are actively supporting the meeting, with representatives from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the European Union (EU) participating as key development partners. Their involvement underscores continued international cooperation in supporting Somaliland’s efforts to strengthen migration governance, improve institutional capacity, and promote rights-based approaches to migration management.
During the sessions, participants are expected to examine the principal challenges associated with mixed migration, including irregular migration, human trafficking, migrant protection, border management, humanitarian assistance, and the need for stronger legal and institutional frameworks. The meeting also provides an opportunity to review existing coordination mechanisms and identify practical measures to improve cooperation among government agencies and international partners.
Officials emphasized that effective migration management requires a whole-of-government approach, where institutions responsible for security, justice, labor, humanitarian affairs, and human rights work closely together to deliver comprehensive and sustainable solutions.
The forum also seeks to reinforce Somaliland’s commitment to protecting the safety, dignity, and fundamental rights of all individuals affected by migration, while ensuring that national migration policies are implemented in accordance with humanitarian principles and international best practices.
As migration continues to present both humanitarian and development challenges across the Horn of Africa, Somaliland has increasingly prioritized inter-agency coordination and partnerships with international organizations to strengthen its migration governance framework. Meetings such as the MMTF serve as an important platform for aligning national priorities, sharing expertise, and developing coordinated strategies that respond to emerging migration trends.
The Borama meeting is expected to conclude with a series of recommendations aimed at enhancing institutional cooperation, improving policy implementation, and reinforcing Somaliland’s capacity to address mixed migration in a manner that promotes security, human rights, and sustainable development.
Reporting by Somalilandpost News
