IOM Chief Visit to Morocco Highlights Shared Vision for Balanced Migration Management

Rabat/Geneva, 21 October 2025 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Director General Amy Pope has concluded her visit to Morocco, reaffirming the Organization’s commitment to advancing migration management and showcasing how balanced mobility approaches can strengthen resilience, foster solidarity, and promote sustainable development.

“Morocco, a champion country of the Global Compact for Migration (GCM), is a vital partner and a model of leadership on the international stage when it comes to migration,” DG Pope said. “Its human-centered vision shows how migration, when well-managed, can drive development, strengthen resilience, and unite communities across borders. Morocco’s approach reflects the kind of balanced mobility the world urgently needs.”

Having hosted the adoption of the GCM in Marrakech in 2018, Morocco has shown through its policies how expanding regular pathways, enhancing border management, and embedding reintegration within local economies can reduce irregular migration and strengthen communities both at home and abroad. This model is not only about managing mobility but also about shaping systems that protect people, meet labour needs, and build trust across societies.

During her visit, DG Pope met with senior government officials including H.E. Mr. Aziz Akhannouch, Head of Government, H.E. Mr. Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, and H.E. Mr. Abdelouafi Laftit, Minister of Interior. She also engaged with migrants and listened to their experiences, aspirations, and the challenges they face in accessing protection, documentation, and essential services.

DG Pope’s discussions in Rabat highlighted ways in which Morocco’s policies reflect a human-centred vision: facilitating legal migration channels, reinforcing borders without undermining rights, and ensuring that those who return are reintegrated into their communities. These efforts not only protect migrants but also reduce reliance on irregular routes that expose people to violence, trafficking, and exploitation.

In Casablanca, DG Pope witnessed first-hand how projects such as the AFCON of Unity and Inclusion use sport to foster dialogue, teamwork, and youth leadership. Such investments in civic and cultural life, she noted, are critical to making neighbourhoods more inclusive and resilient.

Morocco’s contribution to IOM’s newly launched Resilience Campaign further reinforced its role as a partner in tackling shared global challenges. By being the first to support the initiative, Morocco signaled its commitment to ensuring that vulnerable migrants and communities adapt to global challenges. DG Pope reiterated IOM’s support to Morocco’s Territorial Development Plan and its efforts to create opportunities for youth through training, inclusion, and partnerships with the private sector.

Building on this collaboration, the visit also underscored Morocco’s pivotal role in shaping both continental and global migration governance. It sets the stage for the upcoming Africa Interministerial High-Level Meetings on Migration, where governments will work together to strengthen protection, expand regular migration pathways, and integrate mobility into sustainable development strategies.

For more information, please visit IOM’s Media Centre.