IGAD Pushes for Positive Migration Narratives in Media Training

Journalists across the IGAD region are being encouraged to reframe their reporting on migration, moving beyond sensationalism to focus on the positive economic and developmental impacts of safe and regulated movement. This directive was issued during a recent three-day media training in Entebbe, which gathered over 30 journalists, media professionals, and government officials.

The training delved into critical aspects of migration, including the IGAD Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, migration governance, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and ethical reporting standards. Lucy Daxbacher, a Senior Migration Expert at IGAD, emphasized that the Free Movement Protocol aims to create a visa-free regional framework that facilitates entry, stay, exit, labour mobility, residence, and establishment.

Currently, five IGAD member states—Uganda, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia—have signed the protocol, while Djibouti and Kenya are still reviewing it. Daxbacher noted that a lack of ratification stems partly from misunderstandings of the protocol’s provisions, stressing that it allows for progressive implementation based on individual country capacities.

Uganda’s Senior Immigration Officer, Juliet Akello, presented the nation’s National Migration Policy 2025 as a model for supporting regional integration. This policy, aligned with the IGAD protocol, aims to enhance border governance, migrant protection, and labour mobility. Akello urged journalists to avoid dehumanizing language, such as the term “illegals,” and to provide context when reporting on migration.

The training also addressed security concerns, with Senior Commissioner of Police Fred Enanga highlighting how criminal networks exploit migration routes. He stressed the importance of distinguishing legitimate migration from criminal exploitation and of preventing exploitation without criminalizing lawful movement.

The discussions underscored the media’s crucial role in shaping public perception, fostering a better understanding of migration, and promoting safe, orderly, and regular movement within the IGAD region. The ultimate goal is to leverage migration as a driver for development, peace, and security, particularly given the region’s substantial youth population and the critical need for employment opportunities and cross-border trade.