EU-Africa: Africa-Frontex Intelligence Community report 2016: "an unparalleled platform for information-sharing and joint analysis"

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Africa-Frontex Intelligence Community report 2016: "an unparalleled platform for information-sharing and joint analysis"
19.4.17
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The Africa-Frontex Intelligence Community (AFIC) "has now reached an enhanced level of maturity," according to the body's annual report for 2016, and is an "unparalleled platform for information-sharing and joint analysis with African countries" which has "captured further attention from the key policy makers in Europe and Africa."

See: Africa-Frontex Intelligence Community Joint Report 2016(pdf)

The latest report follows previous versions in 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012 (pdfs), although the latter three were made public by Statewatch rather than by Frontex. The 2013 edition is partially-censored.

As a recent Statewatch briefing (pdf) noted:

"One crucial difference between the AFIC and its “regional Risk Analysis” counterparts [dealing, for example, with the Western Balkans or the 'Eastern Partnership' countries] is that Frontex has working arrangements – and thus some form of legal basis – to exchange and analyse information with the countries involved. In the case of the AFIC, Frontex only has working arrangements with Cape Verde and Nigeria. The first report issued by the “intelligence community” was published in 2012 (although it was not made public until some time later) and involved the authorities from: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo."

Exactly which countries now comprise the AFIC is not explicitly stated in the latest report, but it does say (p.6):

"In 2016, the AFIC successfully extended its geographical coverage and now also includes several countries from East Africa. Moreover, the Community implemented one of the recommendations from previous annual reports and started issuing a new monthly report during 2016.

It also strengthened a sense of African ownership of the Community by organising two workshops in Africa, conducting expert field visits in the continent (Aflao border post between Ghana and Togo and new airport in Nouakchott) and capturing greater attention from the key policy makers in Europe and Africa."

Contents

  • Executive summary
  • Introduction
  • Methodology
  • Irregular migratory movements affecting AFIC countries and EU Member States
    • Routes in Africa
    • Profiles of African migrants
    • Entry to Europe
    • Document fraud in relation to AFIC countries and AFIC country nationals
    • Preventive measures by AFIC countries
    • Persistent issues and vulnerabilities affecting migratory movements from West Africa to the EU
  • Regional security threats
    • Focus on Boko Haram
  • Cross-border criminality: drug trafficking
    • Morocco as a hub for cannabis trafficking towards the EU and local markets
    • Cocaine and heroin
    • Drug trafficking cases reported by AFIC partners

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