Tunisia and the International Organization for Migration (OIM) display a convergence of views on the management of irregular migration, especially in terms of voluntary return of migrants. This was said on Tuesday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians abroad, Mohamed Ali Nafti, after a workshop organized at the International Diplomatic Academy.
Placed under the theme “The commitment of the diaspora in the promotion of investment and sustainable development”, the meeting was held in the presence of the director general of the IOM, Amy Pope, on an official visit to Tunisia on May 5 and 6.
During a press briefing, the Minister underlined Tunisia’s attachment to humanist management but firm migration flows: “We respect the dignity of migrants in an irregular situation, but we cannot accept their illegal installation on our territory,” he insisted.
This meeting is part of the 2025 Declaration as “the year of strengthening multilateral action and partnership with UN agencies”, upstream of the 15ᵉ Summit of the World Forum on Migration and Development, scheduled for September in Colombia.
Beyond the migratory issue, the minister highlighted the crucial role that the Tunisian diaspora plays in the country’s sustainable development. He recalled the multiple devices put in place to support Tunisians from abroad, facilitate their return and stimulate their economic participation, in particular via investment and skills transfer programs.
The exchanges held during the workshop focused on good practices in reintegration of expatriate talents, in collaboration with regional and international partners.
Amy Pope, for her part, has underlined the still little exploited potential of diasporas in development dynamics. She recalled that money transfers from expatriate communities on a global scale reached $ 650 billion, a significant lever in a context of reducing public funding for humanitarian aid.
“In a rapidly changing world, diasporas are a strategic link between countries of origin and host companies. Their mobilization should not be limited to the financial aspect, but also include the transfer of skills and technologies, “she said, reiterating IOM’s commitment to support Tunisia in this process.
