Lesotho and South Africa Strengthen Efforts Towards Improved Migration Governance

Earlier today, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Lesotho in Brussels extended a warm welcome to a joint technical delegation from Lesotho and South Africa, accompanied by representatives from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). This visit forms part of an ongoing project aimed at developing an effective migration governance model between the two neighboring countries.

The expert team was established under the framework of the Lesotho–South Africa Bi-National Commission. Their primary mandate is to research and propose practical recommendations that will help ease the movement of people and goods across the Lesotho-South Africa border.

As part of their benchmarking mission, the delegation has already conducted study visits to notable border models around the world. These include the Gambia–Senegal and Belgium–Luxembourg borders, both known for their streamlined and efficient cross-border systems. The delegation’s learning journey will continue in the coming weeks with an important visit to the Botswana–Namibia border, another example of regional cooperation in border management.

During their courtesy call to the Embassy in Brussels, discussions centered on how key lessons from the European Union’s Schengen Area and other African regions could help shape the development of a more efficient, secure, and people-centered border management system in Southern Africa.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lesotho has expressed its appreciation for the collaborative spirit shown by both countries and the valuable support provided by the IOM. The Ministry emphasized that this initiative reflects a strong commitment to regional integration, improved migration governance, and enhanced trade facilitation.

By drawing from international best practices and focusing on regional realities, the Lesotho–South Africa technical delegation aims to recommend solutions that will benefit citizens and businesses on both sides of the border.