Addis Ababa – The Ethiopian Immigration and Citizenship Service (ICS), in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), inaugurated today an 18-month initiative to bolster Ethiopia's border management capabilities using the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS). 

ICS requested support from IOM to implement MIDAS, a cutting-edge border management information system created by the Organization in 2009 to improve the gathering and management of migration data. 

The high-quality, user-friendly, and easily configurable system is for states looking for an all-inclusive and affordable solution and has been installed at over 100 ports of entry in 28 countries. 

MIDAS's capacity to collect, process, store, and analyse traveller information in real-time across the entire border network is expected to elevate security standards, ensure adherence to international traveller processing norms, and aid the Ethiopian government in safeguarding vulnerable migrants more effectively.

Speaking on behalf of H.E. Selamawit Dawit, Director General of the Ethiopian Immigration and Citizenship Service (ICS), Mr. Ambachew Mekonnen emphasized his office's enthusiasm for the initiative and commitment to the agreement.

Abibatou Wane, Chief of Mission for IOM Ethiopia, echoed these sentiments, saying, "Our partnership dates to 2019 when we jointly undertook the first set of MIDAS assessments at points of entry across Ethiopia. Our collaboration saw another set of comprehensive assessments done in 2021, laying the groundwork for the project we are launching today. This journey, spanning several years, is a testament to our shared vision and unwavering commitment to enhancing border management in Ethiopia."

“In support the project we are not primarily considering ourselves as a donor but a partner in migration management, as we believe migration is a global phenomenon that needs to be approached as a common responsibility,” added Ambassador Vincenzo Mascioli, Director for International Affairs State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) for Switzerland.

Officials of ICS, government departments working in migration management and border governance, representatives of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) of Switzerland, and members of the diplomatic corps and the press attended the event.

IOM will continue to support ICS after today's launch, with all activities made possible by funds provided by the Swiss government via the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) and the The Better Migration Management (BMM) programme. 

More information about MIDAS is available here: https://www.iom.int/midas

BMM is a regional initiative that aims to improve migration management and combat trafficking in persons (TiP) and smuggling of migrant (SoM) from and within the East and Horn of Africa (EHoA) region. It is co-funded by the European Union Trust Fund for Africa and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and it is coordinated by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

For more information contact Eric Mazango, emazango@iom.int