The fifth plenary meeting of the Africa-Frontex Intelligence Community (AFIC) took place on 30 November-1 December in Dakar, Senegal, bringing together representatives from the 29 African countries participating in the risk analysis network.
The participants discussed the state of play of the various activities taking place within the AFIC network, results achieved, and planned actions for next year. They also exchanged views on regional and international risk analysis cooperation in the fight against cross-border crime and terrorism, and shared their respective countries’ responses to migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings (THB).
The results achieved within the AFIC network this year include:
- Organising a regional workshop to present the case of a successful cooperation by Sierra Leonean and Gambian authorities to dismantle a human trafficking network operating between the countries. The workshop gathered over 55 representatives from the AFIC countries as well as experts in fighting trafficking in human beings from Frontex, Europol and Afripol.
- Facilitating the exchange of information on the smuggling of migrants taking place between Senegal and the Gambia, as well as on cross-border criminal investigations between Nigerian and Nigerien authorities.
- Creating a training module for the AFIC members on risk analysis methodology, fundamental rights, as well as on information collection and analysis on illegal firearms related crime.
AFIC was launched in 2010 to promote regular information exchange on migrant smuggling and other border security threats affecting African countries and the EU. It brings together Frontex border security analysts with those of the partner African authorities. A central element of the network are risk analysis cells, run by local analysts trained by Frontex. There are currently five cells operating in Ghana, Gambia, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal, while new ones will soon be set up in other African countries.
