GOVERNMENT OF SEYCHELLES AND IOM STRENGTHEN COOPERATION ON MIGRATION MANAGEMENT THROUGH SIGNING OF COOPERATION AGREEMENT

The Government of the Republic of Seychelles and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Friday, 7th August 2026 formalised a Cooperation Agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation on migration management and other areas of mutual interest. The Agreement provides a framework for closer collaboration between the Government and IOM, including the exchange of information and documentation, technical cooperation, research and the implementation of projects and activities in agreed areas.

In accordance with the Agreement, the Ministry of Homeland Security and Civil Affairs has been designated as the central authority in Seychelles for its implementation. This places the Ministry at the centre of the Government’s coordination with IOM on matters falling within the scope of the Agreement.
The Agreement was signed on behalf of the Government of Seychelles by the Minister for Homeland Security and Civil Affairs, Mr. James Camille and on behalf of IOM by Mr. Frantz Celestin, Regional Director for East, Horn and Southern Africa.
The areas identified for cooperation include labour migration, counter-trafficking activities, technical assistance, disaster risk management, climate mobility, poverty reduction, economic growth and human development.

“This Cooperation Agreement strengthens the framework through which Seychelles and IOM can work together on issues of importance to our country. It will support continued cooperation in areas including migration management, counter-trafficking, technical assistance and disaster risk management, while strengthening our national capacity and supporting the priorities of the Government,” said the Minister for Homeland Security and Civil Affairs, James Camille.
The Agreement also provides for the Government and IOM to undertake joint activities and where appropriate, establish technical or advisory bodies to support cooperation on matters of common interest.

The Agreement builds on Seychelles’ longstanding engagement with IOM since becoming a member state of the organization in December 2011. The partnership has supported cooperation on a range of migration-related matters and provides an opportunity to further strengthen technical cooperation and institutional capacity.
IOM’s engagement in Seychelles has included cooperation in areas such as diaspora engagement, efforts to combat migrant smuggling and transnational organised crime in the Western Indian Ocean, anti-trafficking programmes, labour mobility and migration data and management systems to support evidence-based policymaking.
“Seychelles has long been a valued partner to IOM and a leading voice for the priorities of island states within regional migration, maritime security and climate mobility discussions. This Agreement formalizes what has been, in practice, a strong and productive relationship and sets the foundation for even closer cooperation in the years ahead,” said Mr. Frantz Celestin, IOM Regional Director for East, Horn and Southern Africa.

The cooperation between Seychelles and IOM also extends to regional initiatives, including work relating to maritime security, search and rescue, irregular migration, transnational organised crime and climate-related displacement in the South-West Indian Ocean.“Every day, our teams work alongside Seychellois institutions – on labour mobility, on protecting people from trafficking, on strengthening maritime security across the region, and increasingly, on helping communities prepare for and respond to climate-related displacement through initiatives like RE2CLID. This Agreement doesn’t start that work; it recognizes it, and gives us a clearer, more durable framework to keep building on it together,” said Ms. Alia Hirji, IOM Chief of Mission.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora will serve as the focal point for coordinating matters related to specific cases within the scope of the agreement, while the Ministry of Homeland Security and Civil Affairs remains the central authority for its implementation in Seychelles.

The Government of Seychelles remains committed to strengthening cooperation with international and regional partners in support of effective migration management, national security and sustainable development. The Cooperation Agreement with IOM provides an additional framework to advance this work in line with Seychelles’ national priorities.
Through the Agreement, Seychelles and IOM will continue to work together to strengthen safe, orderly and regular migration, support national development priorities and build resilience, while addressing emerging challenges affecting Seychelles and the wider region.