On the sidelines of his participation in the high-level segment of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti met with International Organization for Migration (IOM) Director-General Amy Pope on September 22. The meeting focused on existing cooperation between Tunisia and the IOM, particularly the voluntary return and reintegration mechanism.
According to a statement released by the Tunisian Foreign Ministry, the meeting reviewed the results of the voluntary return and reintegration mechanism, which has enabled the voluntary return of 5,077 irregular migrants since January 2026. This brings the total number of beneficiaries of this mechanism to 25,351 irregular migrants since its inception. The two officials also discussed the efforts of the IOM in this field and the importance of continued coordination to accelerate the pace of voluntary returns and ensure sustainable reintegration.
During the meeting, Minister Nafti reiterated Tunisia's firm position that it will not be a land for settlement or transit, and called for a comprehensive approach to migration issues based on shared responsibility, respect for state sovereignty, human dignity, and human rights. He emphasized the need for international efforts to address the root causes of irregular migration and develop more effective solutions to balance the fight against irregular migration with the promotion of legal migration channels.
IOM Director-General Amy Pope praised the level of cooperation between the IOM and Tunisia, highlighting the importance of development programs and the fight against human trafficking networks. She also reviewed several programs led by the IOM, aimed at benefiting foreign skills residing abroad to contribute to development efforts in their countries of origin.
The two officials discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between Tunisia and the IOM, particularly in the areas of migration management and development. They also emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of migration, including poverty, unemployment, and conflict, to reduce the flow of irregular migrants.
Minister Nafti and Director-General Pope also touched on the issue of human trafficking, with the minister stressing the need for international cooperation to combat this phenomenon. The IOM Director-General welcomed Tunisia's efforts to address human trafficking and pledged to continue supporting the country in this area.
The meeting between Minister Nafti and Director-General Pope reflects the strong cooperation between Tunisia and the IOM on migration issues. The two officials agreed to continue working together to address the challenges of migration and promote sustainable development in the region.
Key points
- Tunisia and the IOM have cooperated on the voluntary return and reintegration of 25,351 irregular migrants since the inception of the mechanism.
