FVP, Dr. Riek Machar, making remarks at the launch of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH) at the Freedom Hall in Juba - Credit | Office of the President | April 5, 2022

The First Vice President has called for inclusive and sustainable migration systems and the creation of legal pathway for migrants to address their challenges, protect them from exploitation, and unlock their potential benefits for the country.

Dr. Riek Machar was speaking at the 2^nd Inter-Ministerial Summit on Migration Governance in South Sudan on Tuesday – where he highlighted the importance of creating legal migration pathways to prevent unsafe and illegal routes often taken by migrants.

In March 2023, the Minister of Labour James Hoth Mai said South Sudan was hosting nearly one-million foreign workers with majority of them not properly documented in the government system.

That figure has apparently increased as around 500,000 Sudanese refugees have crossed to South Sudan since April 2023. Further, a recent report also indicates that at least 50,000 Kenyans have migrated to South Sudan between January and June 2024 alone in search of jobs and business market.

Addressing the event on Tuesday, Dr. Machar stressed the need to protect the rights of migrants, particularly those without legal status, who are often vulnerable to abuse and discrimination.

He further emphasized that migration is a global phenomenon that requires cooperation, careful planning, and regional alignment of policies.

“I would like to emphasize the creation of an inclusive migration governance system. At the core of an inclusive migration system is the understanding that migrants have rights, and this can contribute positively to our societies,” he said.

“To develop such systems, we as a nation must focus on four important areas. One, creating legal pathways. Many migrants face strict policies that leave them with few options, often forcing them to take unsafe and illegal routes.”

Legal options such as family reunification and resettlement were also discussed as means to ensure safer migration experiences and reduce risks of exploitation.

He called on authorities to avoid deportation as the first response to migrants, emphasizing that many migrants are driven by ambitions for a better life and contribute positively to their host communities.

“When I had an interaction with the Minister of Interior, she also informed me that they had just deported some Somalis. Now, this tells us that we have not yet come to terms with handling migrants, because the option may not be deportation.”

“There could be other options, because those who try to migrate are people with ambitions. They have ambitions for a better life, and therefore they leave their countries, and particularly if they are not refugees or internally displaced, but leave their peaceful country and they want to go elsewhere, because they want to go for greener pastures.”

To foster successful migration, Dr. Riek urged investment in social inclusion policies, including education, language training, and access to healthcare.

He noted that migrants bring economic, cultural, and social benefits to host communities, citing examples of skilled professionals, such as doctors and professors, who have contributed to development in the Gulf and other regions.