African States Call for Coordinated Action to Prevent Migrant Deaths

Recommendations from a technical consultation aim to inform global migration policy discussions at the 2026 International Migration Review Forum.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:26am

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A cinematic painting depicting a lone figure walking down a dimly lit, deserted city street at night, the scene bathed in warm, diagonal lighting and deep shadows, conveying a sense of isolation and the challenges faced by migrants.A solitary migrant navigates the shadows of an empty urban landscape, a poignant reminder of the perilous journeys faced by those seeking a better life.NYC Today

African States and partners have called for stronger, coordinated action to prevent migrant deaths and address disappearances along migration routes, following a three-day technical consultation in Cairo. The consultation produced a recommendation note consolidating African operational priorities, good practices, and areas for cooperation aligned with the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) and the UN Secretary-General's 2024 recommendations. The note is designed to directly support African Member States' reporting and discussions at the second International Migration Review Forum (IMRF 2026) to be held in May 2026.

Why it matters

Across the world, over 82,000 migrant deaths and disappearances have been recorded since 2014, including 18,866 in Africa, according to IOM's Missing Migrants Project. However, the true scale of the crisis is believed to be much larger, as most of those who die on migration routes within and departing from Africa are never identified. This consultation aims to elevate African perspectives and priorities to inform global migration policies and frameworks that can better protect the lives of migrants.

The details

The consultation was convened by the United Nations Network on Migration and co-organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), with the support of the Continental UN Network on Migration for Africa. It brought together more than 50 participants, including representatives from government institutions, the African Union, the League of Arab States, United Nations partners, humanitarian organizations, civil society actors, and technical experts, from Djibouti, The Gambia, Libya, Morocco, Niger, and Tunisia. The participants reviewed good practices, coordination mechanisms, search and rescue approaches, and processes related to the identification of the remains of migrants who have died, emphasizing the need for cooperation across government institutions and partners at national and transnational levels.

  • The consultation was held over three days in Cairo.
  • The second International Migration Review Forum (IMRF 2026) will be held from May 5-8, 2026 at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The players

United Nations Network on Migration

The coordinating body that convened the technical consultation in Cairo.

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

The UN migration agency that co-organized the consultation and maintains the Missing Migrants Project, which has recorded over 82,000 migrant deaths and disappearances worldwide since 2014.

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

The humanitarian organization that co-organized the consultation and emphasized the critical role of States in developing technical capacities, policies and legal frameworks to address the issue of missing migrants.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

The humanitarian network that co-organized the consultation and highlighted the support provided by Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers to people on the move through Humanitarian Service Points.

Continental UN Network on Migration for Africa

The regional network that supported the organization of the consultation.

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What they’re saying

“Every life lost along migration routes underscores the urgent need to strengthen collective efforts to prevent deaths and disappearances along migration routes and improve cooperation on missing migrants to protect people on the move.”

— Justin MacDermott, IOM Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa

“Saving lives and responding to the plight of missing migrants requires cooperation on national and transnational levels. Above all, States have a critical role to play in developing technical capacities, policies and legal frameworks to address this important humanitarian issue.”

— Anna Praz, ICRC Head of Delegation in Cairo

“Through Humanitarian Service Points, Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers provide support, care, and safe spaces for people on the move.”

— Dr. Amal Emam, CEO of the Egyptian Red Crescent

What’s next

Participants agreed on the importance of follow-up mechanisms to maintain momentum beyond the consultation, including a working group focused on missing migrants along key African corridors and a shared resource repository consolidating tools, guidance, and methodologies to support national implementation. The United Nations Network on Migration and partners also stand ready to support African Member States in ensuring that the priorities identified in Cairo are clearly reflected throughout the IMRF 2026 process.

The takeaway

This consultation highlights the urgent need for stronger, coordinated action to prevent migrant deaths and address disappearances along migration routes in Africa. By elevating African perspectives and priorities, the recommendations from this event can help inform global migration policies and frameworks that better protect the lives of vulnerable migrants.