West African borders have got firmer with EU help: what it means for local interests

By Melissa Mouthaan, Researcher, University of Cambridge

European and African states have been working together closely on migration since the early 2000s. The cooperation aims to “harden” West African borders – tighten them to deter mobility. The EU’s interests in this cooperation are clear. It wants to prevent migration to Europe by stopping it where it starts.

As a result, a security focus is evident in West African regional policy agendas. It is also evident in cooperation initiatives to build border infrastructure are numerous.

African states themselves have sent clear…

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