VZCZCXRO6425
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHLG #0103/01 0580944
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 270944Z FEB 09 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY LILONGWE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0326
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0196

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LILONGWE 000103 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SMIG PREF PHUM KTIP
SUBJECT: IOM BI-REGIONAL WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS HORN OF AFRICA 
MIGRATION ISSUES 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: The International Organization for 
Migration (IOM) recently held a three-day bi-regional 
workshop on irregular migration flows from Eastern to 
Southern Africa.  The workshop brought together 
representatives from eleven governments spanning Ethiopia to 
South Africa to discuss potential collaborative solutions for 
migration issues in the region.  A presentation on a 
forthcoming IOM assessment of irregular movement of males 
from the Horn of Africa found no evidence of trafficking due 
to a lack of exploitation at the destination.  However, the 
presentation highlighted the deception, human rights abuses, 
complicity of government officials, and lack of legal 
deterrents that affect those smuggled enroute to South 
Africa.  While most governments were eager to benefit from 
freer migration in the region through increased remittances 
and job prospects for their citizens, only the government of 
Rwanda joined South Africa in supporting free movement, 
employment, and potential regularization for migrants. End 
Summary. 
 
Migration From Horn Spurs Workshop 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) In February, the IOM held a three-day workshop in 
Blantyre, Malawi to address regional concerns regarding 
irregular migration flows to Southern Africa.  The workshop, 
which included government representatives from Ethiopia, 
Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, 
Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, sought to find a 
collaborative solution for migration issues in the region. 
The conference, organized by IOM at the behest of the 
government of Malawi, focused primarily on migration from the 
Horn of Africa to South Africa and the affects on countries 
along this route. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Among the key issues identified by participants was 
the need to increase data collection and information-sharing 
regarding migrants.  Some suggested that a shared asylum 
system could help stop migrants from "shopping" for a country 
and speed asylum claim adjudications in the region.  Many 
participants also pointed out differences in their respective 
national immigration laws that encourage migrants to flock to 
more accommodating countries. 
 
IOM Research Reveals Deception, Abuses, and Complicity 
------------------------------- ---------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Of interest to all participants was a presentation 
of a forthcoming IOM assessment (funded by the State 
Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in 
Persons) of irregular movement of males from the Horn of 
Africa.  The research found no evidence of human trafficking, 
primarily due to a lack of exploitation at the destination, 
but did highlight many abuses.  In particular, smugglers 
deceived the smuggled about the cost, duration, and mode of 
transportation for the journey.  Additionally, smugglers 
often subjected the men to human rights abuses including 
beating and starvation.  Smugglers also used robberies and 
imprisonments along the way to extort additional money from 
the smuggled, who were forced to call family and friends to 
wire additional funds, often delaying the trip by days. 
 
¶5. (SBU) The draft assessment also found government officials 
complicit in the smuggling route.  Over 80% of the smuggled 
men who were interviewed said they saw their smugglers pay 
bribes to government officials at some point in their 
journey.  Overall, the assessment estimated that over 16,000 
men move from Somalia and Ethiopia to South Africa per year, 
mostly by land.  The average trip takes eight weeks to 
complete and the smuggled pay fees of approximately $2000 to 
smugglers.  Researchers said that approximately 80% of all 
Somalis and 60% of all Ethiopians smuggled to South Africa 
used the Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi as a transit point. 
The assessment also noted that for many, South Africa is just 
another temporary waypoint in their ultimate journey through 
South America to the United States and Canada. 
 
Many Wary of Economic Impact of Migrants 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) In a roundtable discussion, most governments were in 
favor of freer regional movement in principle, citing 
benefits such as increased trade, remittances, and 
employment.  However, many were more concerned about migrants 
taking local jobs in their countries.  Notably, 
representatives of the government of Rwanda voiced their 
support for allowing migrants free movement, employment 
opportunities, and even the possibility of regularization 
through dual citizenship in Rwanda.  The Rwandans cited 
positive economic impacts immigrants can make in a country. 
 
LILONGWE 00000103  002.9 OF 002 
 
SUBJECT: IOM BI-REGIONAL WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS HORN OF AFRICA 
MIGRATION ISSUES 
Unswayed, most countries voiced the need for increased 
funding to both combat illegal migration and make legal 
migration more efficient in the region. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Comment:  As noted in the IOM assessment, Malawi has 
become a nexus for migrant smuggling to South Africa. 
Malawian government officials remain disturbed that, in their 
view, northern neighbors continue to allow Somali migrants to 
pass southward while southern neighbors force the same back 
to Malawi.  Like Malawi, many of the participating 
governments seemed to prefer attempts to turn back irregular 
migration.  Rwanda's advocacy of free movement, employment 
opportunities, and potential citizenship for migrants clearly 
surprised many attendees, but did not seem to change any 
minds.  The IOM assessment's findings on official corruption 
facilitating smuggling in the region was met with few 
comments; only the representatives of Mozambique asked for 
more proof. End Comment. 
BODDE