ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — The African Union Commission has appointed Ambassador Amma Adomaa Twum-Amoah as Special Envoy of the AUC Chairperson on the Situation of Stranded Migrants and Refugees, expanding efforts to coordinate African-led responses to migration and humanitarian challenges affecting vulnerable people across the continent and along major migration routes.
The designation was announced by the African Union on August 10, 2026. Twum-Amoah currently serves as the AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development. In her additional role, she will work under African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, with particular attention to strengthening continental coordination and revitalizing cooperation among African and international institutions responding to migration emergencies.
Following her designation, Twum-Amoah met with Youssouf to discuss the responsibilities of the new assignment and the African Union’s broader approach to migration. According to the AU, the Special Envoy’s work will emphasize African ownership of humanitarian responses while strengthening coordination with member states and international partners.
Twum-Amoah expressed appreciation for the confidence placed in her and committed herself to carrying out the mandate in cooperation with governments and other partners. She said the AU would continue pursuing “African-led solutions” to migration and humanitarian challenges, particularly those affecting vulnerable populations.
A major component of her mandate will involve the revitalized African Union-European Union-United Nations Tripartite Taskforce. Established in 2017 during the AU-EU Summit in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, the initiative has supported voluntary humanitarian returns for tens of thousands of stranded migrants while also contributing to evacuation and resettlement pathways for refugees requiring international protection, according to the African Union.
The renewed effort is expected to address migration across the entire journey—from countries of origin through transit states to destinations. Priorities identified by the AU include combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling, improving humanitarian assistance, supporting voluntary return and reintegration, and developing longer-term approaches to the underlying factors contributing to irregular migration.
Youssouf emphasized that sustained political engagement and coordinated action remain essential to protecting migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers. The AU Chairperson stressed the need to safeguard their “rights, dignity and wellbeing,” while maintaining strong African leadership in addressing humanitarian and migration challenges.
Join us on WhatsApp
The African Union said cooperation will also involve the European Union, United Nations agencies including the International Organization for Migration and the UN Refugee Agency, as well as Libya, Tunisia and other countries situated along major migration routes. The approach is intended to strengthen protection for vulnerable populations while improving coordination among countries of origin, transit and destination.
Twum-Amoah said revitalizing the tripartite mechanism provides an opportunity to strengthen African ownership and improve accountability among participating institutions. Her mandate is expected to include advancing protection measures, humanitarian assistance, voluntary return and reintegration programs, and sustainable migration governance across Africa.
The appointment comes as African governments and international institutions continue to confront complex migration pressures involving displacement, conflict, economic hardship, trafficking networks and dangerous journeys across deserts and maritime routes. The African Union maintains that responses should protect human dignity while promoting safe, orderly and regular migration and developing sustainable solutions for refugees and migrants.
The AU said Twum-Amoah’s designation is intended to bring greater institutional coordination to those efforts while ensuring that Africa retains a central leadership role in shaping policies affecting migrants and refugees across the continent.
