Austria and Uganda Strengthen Cooperation in Migration Management

Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS) is attending this year's summit meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, on Wednesday and Thursday. There, she intends to promote Austria's UN Security Council candidacy on one hand, and on the other hand, engage in discussions in the areas of security and economy to advance Austria's recently presented Africa strategy, according to the Foreign Ministry to the APA.

Meinl-Reisinger: Africa as a "Continent of Opportunities"

"Africa is the continent of opportunities of the 21st century. A young, dynamic population, growing markets, and enormous raw material deposits make the continent a strategic partner for Austria. Those who invest in African partnerships today are investing in the future," emphasized the Foreign Minister. Austrian companies would find huge opportunities in Africa, said Meinl-Reisinger.

"If we want to maintain security, stability, and prosperity in Europe, we must gain Africa as a partner. The demographic and political pressure on the continent is enormous - without perspectives and targeted support on site, the migration pressure on Europe will continue to rise. We want to prevent that," reaffirmed the Foreign Minister, who will meet, among others, her Ugandan counterpart Jeje Odongo in Kampala.

The Non-Aligned Movement today comprises 120 states, most of them from Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and South America. All 120 states together encompass about 4.8 billion people, accounting for 59 percent of the world's population.

Uganda and Austria: A Partnership with History

Since 1992, Uganda has been a focus country of Austrian Development Cooperation. Austria plays a special role for Uganda. In 1985, the National Resistance Movement of Uganda met at the inn "zum grünen Jäger" in Unterolberndorf (municipality of Kreuttal) in the Lower Austrian Weinviertel and adopted the Unterolberndorf Manifesto, laying the foundation for today's Ugandan constitution. One of the participants at that time was Yoweri Museveni, who has been governing the East African country as president since 1986.

Uganda currently hosts over 1.9 million refugees and serves as a role model in terms of local assistance. Austria supports refugees and host communities in Uganda, for example through projects in the areas of drinking water supply and sanitation facilities. During her visit, Meinl-Reisinger will also visit the UNHCR contact point for urban refugees in Kampala, where a range of services, from registration to health examinations, are offered to refugees.

Uganda as a Role Model in Refugee Care

In the future, Austria wants to cooperate even more closely with Uganda, particularly in efficient migration management, the voluntary or involuntary return of individuals, and the fight against human trafficking, according to the Foreign Ministry. Recently, the Netherlands agreed with Uganda to build a transit camp for rejected asylum seekers.

Despite concerns about the human rights situation in Uganda, the East African state is considered a role model by many countries in refugee care. Efforts are made to avoid housing refugees in camps. Instead, each newcomer receives a plot of land to live on and grow food. Since 2017, according to the UN, asylum applications from people from South Sudan and the Congo in Uganda have been processed in an accelerated procedure without the need for a hearing. This allows them to be recognized as refugees more quickly and their asylum status confirmed.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.