The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Mr Lejone Mpotjoane, made important remarks at the Ministerial Roundtable on the theme “Africa Migration at a Crossroads: From Cooperation to Solutions.”
He pointed out ongoing challenges encountered by Basotho migrants, and highlighted the crucial role that migration plays in Lesotho’s economy, particularly the significance of remittances.
He called for a safer and improved labor mobility within SADC, anti-trafficking collaboration, increased investment in livelihoods and climate-resilient projects, and stronger border and data systems, including the implementation of IOM’s MIDAS technology.
Furthermore, he reaffirmed Lesotho’s proposal for an African Diaspora Development and Investment Fund and stressed the need for an increased diaspora engagement.
Later, at a Ministerial Dinner held to map out Africa’s course for the 2026 International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), Minister Mpotjoane urged for a unified African stance on labour agreements, skills recognition, portable social protection, digital migration tools, and advancing the AU Free Movement Protocol.
The Minister emphasized the necessity of more robust UN assistance for African states and rights-based governance. Lesotho reiterated its dedication to creating safe, orderly, and development-driven migration systems and to ensuring that Africa’s priorities influence the 2026 IMRF.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, 08/12/2025
