Frontex opens risk analysis cell in Nouakchott

On 20 September, Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, and Mauritanian authorities opened a risk analysis cell in Nouakchott within the framework of the Africa-Frontex Intelligence Community (AFIC).

Currently eight risk analysis cells are part of the AFIC network. The role of the cells, which are run by local analysts trained by Frontex, is to collect and analyse data on cross-border crime and support authorities involved in border management. This includes information on illegal border crossings, document fraud, trafficking in human beings and other types of cross-border crime.

Cooperation between Frontex and 32 African countries in the AFIC community is a key element in fighting cross-border crime and preventing security threats affecting African countries and the EU.

AFIC was launched in 2010 to provide a framework for regular information sharing about migrant smuggling and border security threats. It foresees close cooperation with a number of countries along the main smuggling routes. This is done through a series of training activities to develop national and regional strategies to fight cross-border crime. It also includes setting up integrated border management systems, as well as improving the collection, sharing and analysis of relevant data with full respect for fundamental rights.