Statement from IOM Spokesperson: IOM Chief Visit to Tunisia
Geneva/ Tunis, 5 May 2025 – At the invitation of H.E. Mr. Mohamed Ali Nafti, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, IOM Director General Ms Amy Pope arrived in Tunisia today to hold high-level meetings with Government officials and key partners to strengthen cooperation and support coordinated and effective approaches to address migration challenges and opportunities in the country.
During her visit, DG Pope will attend a thematic workshop on diaspora engagement taking place in the context of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD). The GFMD event, on 6 May, will focus on boosting diaspora engagement, attracting investment, retaining skilled talent, and supporting Tunisia’s youth. With over 15 per cent of Tunisians living abroad, primarily in Europe, their remittances account for more than five per cent of the country's GDP, supporting key sectors such as services, industry, and agriculture.
IOM works with the Government of Tunisia and key partners, including the European Union and African countries, to develop integrated solutions across key routes, managing migration and harnessing the contribution of migration for joint prosperity. This means addressing trafficking and abuse of migrants, assisting those who choose to return home, and helping them reintegrate and rebuild their lives.
In 2024, IOM supported 19,785 people in Tunisia through essential services, including assistance to vulnerable migrants, healthcare, voluntary return and reintegration, and protection efforts as well as supporting Tunisian youth find opportunity safely through regular migration pathways.
Tunisia is a key country in global migration efforts. It is crucial for donors and policymakers to work closely with the Government to support migrants and host communities, as well as the voluntary return of migrants in irregular situations to their homes with the strict respect of their human dignity.
IOM works globally to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration, supporting rights-based pathways that enable people to move and work with dignity and opportunity.
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