The West is seeking to outsource its anti-migrant policy by making Africa its main subcontractor. This trend, which has intensified in recent years, is causing serious concern among humanitarian organizations. Indeed, several European countries, such as England, Denmark, Italy and Spain, have concluded agreements with African countries, such as Rwanda, Tunisia and Mauritania, to outsource the processing of applications asylum.
The most recent example is that of Austria, which is in the process of concluding an agreement with Rwanda for the processing of asylum applications. This migration subcontracting policy is based on the principle that any asylum request sent to Austria will be examined in Rwanda. If the application is accepted, the asylum seeker will have the right to reside in Rwanda while benefiting from the protection of Austria. In the event of refusal, the asylum seeker may, under certain conditions, submit a new application in Rwanda.
This approach highlights the primacy of economic interests over human rights. European countries are seeking to reduce the costs of caring for migrants and manage the overload of their migration systems. African countries, in exchange for their cooperation, receive financial compensation. However, this policy provokes strong reactions among African public opinion, who consider it a violation of human rights and a betrayal of African solidarity.
It is interesting to note that Rwanda was the first African country to volunteer for this policy of migration subcontracting, quickly followed by Tunisia. African leaders, such as Paul Kagame and Kaïs Saïed, made this decision considering the economic interests of their country as priority. However, this individualistic approach is criticized by many voices within the African Union, which has remained strangely calm on this issue.
It remains to be seen which African country will be next to volunteer to help Europe manage illegal immigration. This reality arouses strong opposition from international humanitarian organizations, who fear a violation of human rights and an instrumentalization of African countries by Western countries. It is therefore crucial to find a balance between the management of migratory flows and respect for human rights, while respecting African and international solidarity.