The African Union (AU) has taken a major step in the fight against trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants. During a three-day engagement in Kampala, Uganda, held from December 16-December 18, 2024, the Continental Guidelines for Sharing Information and Intelligence to combat trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM) were validated by the African Union. These Guidelines have been developed by the African Union’s Continental Operational Centre (COC). The three-day engagement witnessed the participation of senior officials, law enforcement experts, and civil society representatives.
Experts highlighted several challenges hindering efforts to address TIP and SOM, such as insufficient data collection, resource constraints for enforcement, and hesitancy among some stakeholders to share critical information. The guidelines offer practical measures to overcome these obstacles, including the development of standardized tools for data collection, the establishment of cross-border task forces, and the promotion of bilateral and multilateral collaboration.
Irregular migration remains a pressing issue, with smugglers and traffickers exploiting vulnerable populations along various migration routes. The Southern Route toward Southern Africa, the Northern Route to North Africa and Europe, and the East and Horn of Africa Route toward the Middle East and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries have become hotspots for TIP and SOM activities. The COC, established by the African Union Assembly in 2019, is tasked with leading the fight against irregular migration through policy development, capacity building, and fostering coordination among AU Member States.
The Continental Operational Centre (COC) for the African Union plays a pivotal role in combating human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and transnational organized crime. It provides a platform for cooperation and information sharing among law enforcement agencies of Member States, ensuring alignment with national laws. The COC enhances coordination with similar initiatives across Africa and globally, facilitating the exchange of intelligence on organized crime. It collaborates with national, regional, continental, and international agencies to prevent, detect, and investigate human trafficking and migrant smuggling. To strengthen legal frameworks, the COC supports the development of mutual legal assistance, extradition agreements, and harmonized continental strategies in line with international and AU policies. Additionally, it assists Member States in adopting best practices for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information on transnational crime. The COC also commissions research on crime trends, offering insights to inform policymaking and enforcement. Capacity building and technical assistance are central to its efforts, empowering Member States to combat irregular migration and enhance border management. By addressing requests from AU Policy Organs, the COC adapts to emerging challenges, fostering a united and effective approach to transnational organized crime across the continent.
The guidelines, developed by the African Union’s Continental Operational Centre (COC), provide a structured framework for cooperation among Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and law enforcement agencies. With the rise of sophisticated criminal networks exploiting technological advancements, the guidelines aim to bolster intelligence-sharing mechanisms to detect, disrupt, and prosecute cases of TIP and SOM.
The key elements of the Guidelines are as follows: 1) Encouraging cooperation among nations to effectively address transnational crimes; 2) Establishing robust systems for the exchange of information related to TIP and SOM; 3) Promoting legal cooperation to support investigations and prosecutions; 4) Harmonising and Aligning national laws to create a cohesive legal approach against TIP and SOM; 5) Implementing secure methods for sharing sensitive information among stakeholders; and 6) Utilizing advancements in technology to enhance law enforcement capabilities and address cyber-related challenges.
Advocate Maemo Machethe, Director of the COC, underscored the importance of this initiative during the opening remarks. “Trafficking in Persons and migrant smuggling represent not just violations of human rights but fundamental threats to state sovereignty and regional stability. These guidelines are an actionable blueprint for dismantling the networks that perpetuate these crimes,” he stated.
Interpol’s Regional Specialized Officer for Eastern Africa Bureau, Emmanuel Ndayegamiye, called the guidelines a turning point in the fight against transnational organized crime. “Strengthening intelligence sharing and fostering cross-border cooperation are not just strategies but imperatives in dismantling human trafficking and migrant smuggling networks—because no single nation can fight this battle alone,” Ndayegamiye explained.
The technical lead for the COC, Geoffrey Wafula, highlighted the significance of the meeting stating, “This is a unique opportunity to align our efforts with recent policies and to institutionalize mechanisms for information exchange among law enforcement agencies, regional economic communities, and international partners. We are committed to creating actionable solutions that have a tangible impact on the ground.”. “This strategic plan will not only address the immediate challenges of TIP and SOM but will also provide a foundation for sustainable migration governance across the continent,” Wafula added.
