The EU-Horn of Africa Migration Route Initiative (Khartoum Process) was launched on Friday under Italy’s EU Council Presidency at a ministerial conference in Rome. Participating countries included the EU’s 28 Member States, Libya, Egypt Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya and Tunisia.
Since Italy assumed the EU Council Presidency migration and refugee policy was put at the heart of the EU’s foreign policy agenda bringing the issue into the spotlight. The initiative aims to promote concrete projects for the more effective management of migration flows in the countries of the Horn of Africa and the main Mediterranean countries of transit (Libya, Egypt and Tunisia).
In an area where recurring tensions have also led to armed conflict, the Khartoum Process (KP) is poised to assist regional stabilization efforts, Italy said.
In a joint statement Germany and Italy said that the Mediterranean crossing is just the last stage in the long journey from the Horn of Africa to Europe. From the moment of their departure, migrants are constantly exposed to the danger of falling victim to grave violations of their human rights, or to humanitarian emergencies.
An estimated 25-30,000 Eritrean, Somali and Ethiopian citizens have been kidnapped and tortured on the East Africa migration route since 2009 with the aim of demanding high ransoms from their families.
Italy and Germany have therefore decided to strengthen their joint commitment in the Horn of Africa in the framework of the Khartoum Process.
The initiative has been well received by European countries, especially those most closely affected by migration. Germany for example has expressed its great interest in the KP’s aims and is considering possible bilateral migration-related initiatives with the countries concerned. African nations have also responded with enthusiasm to the initiative, according to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Speaking at the conference, Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said, “Civil wars, expulsion, a lack of economic prospects and human rights violations are forcing increasing numbers of people to leave their homes in the wider European neighbourhood. Driven by the hope for personal safety and a better future, they embark on dangerous odysseys, often through multiple countries and across the sea. Many refugees suffer hardship and exploitation on their long transit towards Europe.“
Steinmeier emphasized that a long‑term solutions to the current refugee crises and migrant flows can only be found together with the countries of origin and transit and that the Khartoum Process is so crucial in order to achieve this goal.
