Citizen And Patriotic Migration (Jem-Cameroon): An All-Round Commitment In Favor Of Young Cameroonians

Douala – The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Civic Education (MINJEC), organized an important meeting within the framework of the initiative “Citizenship and Patriotic Migration: JEM – Cameroon”, a three-year project set up by IOM and MINJEC since May 2024. The main objective of the JEM – Cameroon initiative is to mobilize all stakeholders to contribute to activities related to the promotion of regular migration as a catalyst for development, and to the fight against irregular migration in Cameroon. 

Chaired by Mr. Mounouna Foutsou, Minister of Youth and Civic Education (MINJEC), the meeting brought together representatives of the government, public, parastatal and private companies from Cameroon and elsewhere, as well as international organizations and the diplomatic corps. MINJEC and IOM intend to mobilize 10 million euros through the JEM – Cameroon initiative. This sum will be used to create businesses run by young Cameroonians on the one hand, and on the other hand will promote partnerships to meet needs related to irregular migration. 

In his welcoming address, the IOM Chief of Mission in Cameroon, Mr. Abdel Rahmane Diop, returned to the positive impact of migration for migrants and societies when it is well managed. Evoking the context that underpinned the establishment of the JEM – Cameroon initiative by IOM and MINJEC, he recalled that it was during his speech to the nation in February 2024 that the Head of State HE Paul Biya expressed his concerns about the immigration of Cameroonian youth, highlighting the associated risks and challenges, including deaths and the deterioration of the human rights of migrants. 

“Migration should no longer be a matter reserved for the government of Cameroon and its development partners including IOM, but must now include private sector companies,” he said. The IOM Private Sector Engagement Strategy 2023-2027 presented at the meeting is part of this dynamic. Focused on three pillars, namely Impact, Innovation and Income, the Strategy aims to support the rights of migrants and promote their inclusion in the workplace and in the community, while encouraging innovative solutions to migration challenges. 

Mr. Mounouna Foutsou encouraged the effective implementation of this Strategy. He reiterated “the importance of collaboration between the government, businesses and international organizations to support young people and migrants.” Also, the national referral mechanism for migrants presented by Ms. Minga Carine Laure, Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will make it possible to “address the resource availability and coordination challenges among different actors involved in reintegration.” 

In addition to their existing commitments to support the development of Cameroonian youth, international institutions, including the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) renewed their support for the reintegration of migrants and the promotion of youth entrepreneurship through this initiative. The parastatal, public and private institutions represented at the ceremony such as MTN, Ecobank, Afriland First Bank, Cimenteries du Cameroun, Bange Bank, Orange, Cameroon Telecommunications, UBA Cameroon SA, also spoke in favor of the project which extends over three years.

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