Cape Town to Host Key Migration Summit: 9th Pan-African Forum on Migration, 16–18 December 2025

Africa’s premier continental migration governance forum is set to convene in Cape Town from 16 to 18 December 2025, bringing together senior government officials, policymakers, experts, and stakeholders to tackle urgent issues in migration, mobility, and border management. The 9th Pan-African Forum on Migration (PAFoM IX) will focus on leveraging digital innovation to enhance secure, integrated, and efficient movement across the continent.

Organized under the African Union’s (AU) framework, PAFoM is a flagship platform that promotes cooperation and policy coherence among AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities, international partners, and civil society. Over three days of high-level dialogue and technical sessions, participants will review challenges and opportunities linked to migration governance, border systems, and the movement of persons.

Programme Highlights

The forum’s schedule blends targeted institutional discussions with broader engagement:

1. 16–17 December - Directors General, Chiefs, and Heads of Immigration Session:
   This segment will see top immigration and border agency leaders discuss strategic and operational priorities, including the digitization of border management, harmonised procedures, and enhanced inter-agency cooperation.
2. 17 December - Accountability Session: Academia & Parliamentary Engagement:
   Experts from universities, research institutions, and parliamentary committees will spotlight the role of evidence-based policy and legislative oversight in shaping effective migration governance.
3. 18 December - International Migrants Day Extravaganza:
   The closing day will celebrate International Migrants Day with discussions and activities designed to underscore the human dimension of migration and Africa’s efforts to ensure safe, orderly, and regular mobility.

Key Themes and Expected Outcomes

PAFoM IX’s overarching theme “Smart, Integrated and Secure Border Management” highlights the growing role of technology in border governance and mobility facilitation. The forum will spotlight digital solutions such as integrated border management systems, interoperable data platforms, and identity management frameworks that can streamline cross-border movement while bolstering security.

Key outcomes expected from the summit include:

1. The establishment of a Migration Advisory Council (MAC) to provide sustained expert guidance and coordination on continental migration policy.
2. Enhanced cooperation across immigration services and improved uptake of digital border systems among member states.
3. Broader engagement on visa openness, which many AU policymakers view as a driver of intra-African mobility and economic integration.
4. Stronger regional collaboration to address trafficking in persons (TiP) and smuggling of migrants (SoM).

Why It Matters

Migration is a central feature of Africa’s socio-economic landscape, shaping labour markets, regional integration, and human security. PAFoM provides a unique multi-stakeholder platform to align policies with continental priorities such as the Migration Policy Framework for Africa (MPFA), the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, and the African Union’s long-term Agenda 2063 for integration and development.

As Africa continues to innovate in border governance and mobility facilitation especially in the context of expanding intra-continental trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),  the outcomes of PAFoM IX will inform how countries balance security, technology adoption, and human mobility in the years ahead.