CSOs complicit in the outsourcing of Border-Control !?
With the growing order of restrictive migration policies, local migration actors especially from refugee-migrant departure countries are still not too familiar with the manipulative strategies of the EU in promoting the externalization of its borders. The trend is so that both governments and local CSOs are routinely lured into a scramble for collaboration in shady migration and development projects of the EU.
By virtue of the enduring post-colonial influence, African countries can barely boost of having a sovereign migration policy that is independent from designed templates of international donors. On that basis, African migration policies are rather centred around a Eurocentric perspective of migration from Africa to Europe which undermines the reality of the bulk of migration that has always existed intra-continentally. Fed with a constant stream of propaganda from the EU-initiated migration for development nexus, deceived by an EU moral for solidarity, local migration actors in refugee-migrant sending countries are persistently drawn into a tokenistic scramble for collaboration and as such become complicit in programs that are meant to facilitate the externalization of EU border control. These projects that are usually designed under strict and complicated conditions are primarily intended to obscure the actual root causes of migration and the widespread violation of human rights, but rather promote the propaganda that frames human trafficking as the exclusive problem of the ongoing migration and humanitarian catastrophe.
Given the complex strategies behind the outsourcing of EU border control, it is becoming more and more difficult to identify direct responsibility or even accountability for the current migration dilemma. Also crucial is to point out the contradiction between the EU propaganda of promoting legal pathways to migration while at same time imposing increasingly stricter visa regulations and promoting racist domestic policies that will continue to produce more vulnerability for migrant survivors in Europe – true to the motto: “Those who are not drowned in the Mediterranean, are later drowned in the flood of Germany`s paper work!”
Enough is enough with the EU’s persistent double standards. Migration actors in Africa must step up to question the continuous migration arrogance of the EU. Migration is a fundamental part of human heritage! Migration is a human right and no power – not even imperialist Europe – can prohibit human mobility. The last 10 years of EU-championed brutality on migrants can buttress that. It is quite obvious that so long as the EU continues to dictate the rules, the problems of migration will remain the same and get even worse. Cruel and inhuman migration policies made by EU will only continue to legitimate massive violence and cause more death as people will be left with no other choice but to embark on more risky migration routes in search for protection and dignified life. Humans are born free to move around the globe like fishes. We must not allow any power or complex to hold us bound. The same Europe that enslaved our ancestors and continues to exploit our countries is again and again holding us to stay bound within walls. This is racism, we must not be shy to call it by its name. Africans must wake up to denounce Europe’s assumption as teachers from whom we have to learn how to manage our borders.
The African civil society needs to be well informed about the migration agenda of the European Union. The externalization of the EU`s borders is right in our corridors. The path to that consciousness has to start with a reflection on the following:
- Why does the EU have right to supervise our borders and we are not allowed to do same in Europe?
- What right does the European police have to control at departures in our Airport and we are not allowed to do same in Europe?
- Why should the EU impose restrictions of movement even with our common union (ECOWAS) when one can move around Europe with a Schengen Visa
The major problem is that African leaders are not bold enough to speak the realities in front of the EU. Even with the African union in place, individual African countries are mostly addressed alone on international platforms. This long-standing imperialist divide and rule politics has always promoted disunity and disharmony in the continent. The EU externalization policy has enormous negative impact on the African economy i.e. human resources, trade and several other elements that impede development. The rampant tradition with praise singing for international NGOs is alarming. Local CSOs should be challenged to take a stand to speak the truth at public platforms with international NGOs and liberate themselves from routinely reproduced reintegration baits that have reduced them to become mere service providers and effective facilitators of the EU’s outsourcing of border control.
With a closer look at Nigeria and its symbolic position on migration, there is an urgent need for transformation in the way migration is perceived and discussed in the country. Everything about solving the migration situation is centered around propaganda to combating human trafficking with returns-re-integration opportunities as leverage for the EU solidarity and saviourism. In the West African region to be precise, Nigeria lag far behind in critical consciousness on the EU migration agenda. For the lots expected from the Giant of Africa, the need for an accelerated awareness for No-Border perspectives on migration is now: What is Fortress Europe? What is Frontex and what is its role in externalization of EU border control? Who are other key actors in the border externalization regime? What are the key aspects of outsourcing border control?
A major voice for this change lies with CSOs. The transformation has to start with an understanding beyond the usual isolated migration commitments. Migration in today’s world is interrelated with every other aspect of society. Hence the need to engage in broader networks against all forms of social injustices i.e. Agriculture, Land grabbing, climate justice, different forms of inequality etc. Nigeria cannot continue to play the fiddle as test ground or regional control point for the EU exploitative interest in the region. With a countdown to the World Social Forum 2026 in Cotonou, a No-Border delegation from Nigeria should be on ground to network with others in the region. With adequate awareness and critical consciousness on the migration complexities, CSOs will be more equipped to deal with the actual migration challenges and as such take position against baits to lure them in as service providers in the outsourcing of EU border control.
Outside keeping us in a situation of beggars without a choice, the Return and Reintegration offers are far more facilitating massive deportation violence and abuse of migrants rights. Furthermore, it renders Nigeria porous and as dumping ground for the Europe unwished migrants. The fact still remains “No country – not even Europe – can exist or survive without migrants”. It is a well known fact that the Germanised Europe is in dare need for migrants labour to secure the future of its social welfare, yet there is continued deportation of well integrated migrants who had even worked and paid taxes for many years especially in Germany. The claim to promote legal pathways is obviously a deception for selecting migrants who seem to be useful for Germany’s economic interest. It is modern day slavery and for the Germany that we know, there is this tradition to keep migrants in limbo and vulnerable until they seem not to be needed anymore, and then deported.
Network for Critical Migration Consciousness “NfCMC” is working on establishing an online platform for No-border migration awareness in Nigeria. The objective is to transmit available critical migration resources online for migration actors in Nigeria. In collaboration with Refugees4Refugees and transnational No-Border networks, there will be routine online exchanges on issues relevant to migration. The platform is intend to create broader awareness on both the external and internal EU migration policies and interest. With the launching of the platform, a webinar is planned for January 2026 about a critical overview on the common European Asylum policy “CEAP” and the contradictions with some domestic regulations of individual EU member states. Moreover, in the webinar section, there will be critical highlights on the EU externalization interest, actors and strategies. It will not be mere slogans but realities that we constantly need to speak about from now on. (see recommended links); Fortress Europe ICMPD – Expanding eu Border regime Frontex