The EU externalisation policy on border management and migration control in Africa has increasingly relied on the use of technology in recent times. This paper examines how these technological interventions for border governance in Africa infringe on migrants' rights and mobility patterns. Exploring the effect of deployment of Migration Information Data Analysis System in Nigeria, risk analysis cells in Niger and biometric registration of migrants in Mauritania, the study finds infringements on the migration pattern of the people. The biometric exercise in Mauritania hampers the northward movement of mainly male migrants, aged between 18 and 46, who are mostly from Senegal, Gambia, Nigeria, Guinea Conakry and Mali. Data collected from these migrants, are shared on EU digital platforms, between IOM, Europol and FRONTEX, and can be used to facilitate their deportation as they approach Europe's border space. While emphasising the significance of this work on the geography of population movement, this paper argues that the use of EU‐funded technological projects for border management infringes on the historical cross‐border mobility in North and West Africa which is essential for socioeconomic exchanges and escaping conflicts. It highlights these restrictive practices as mirroring the hegemonic relationship between Europe and Africa that reinforces colonial‐era violence at Africa's border space. The paper draws from non‐participatory observation, instant interactions and 78 semi‐structured interviews conducted with migrants, cross‐border traders, government officials, civil society organisations, motorists, residents and the media along two major migration routes: between Nigeria and Niger and between Mauritania and Western Sahara (Morocco).

中文翻译：

---

欧盟在非洲的边境技术：途中的经验


近年来，欧盟关于非洲边境管理和移民控制的外部化政策越来越依赖于技术的使用。本文探讨了非洲边境治理的这些技术干预措施如何侵犯移民的权利和流动模式。该研究探讨了在尼日利亚部署移民信息数据分析系统、在尼日尔部署风险分析单元以及在毛里塔尼亚部署移民生物识别登记的效果，发现对人民移民模式的侵犯。毛里塔尼亚的生物识别工作阻碍了主要是年龄在 18 岁至 46 岁之间的男性移民向北流动，这些移民大多来自塞内加尔、冈比亚、尼日利亚、几内亚科纳克里和马里。从这些移民身上收集的数据在国际移民组织、欧洲刑警组织和 FRONTEX 之间的欧盟数字平台上共享，并可用于在他们接近欧洲边境时协助将他们驱逐出境。在强调这项工作对人口流动地理的重要性的同时，本文认为，使用欧盟资助的边境管理技术项目侵犯了北非和西非历史上的跨境流动，而这对于社会经济交流和逃离冲突。它强调这些限制性做法反映了欧洲和非洲之间的霸权关系，强化了非洲边境空间殖民时代的暴力。本文借鉴了非参与性观察、即时互动和 78 次半结构化访谈，对沿着两条主要移民路线（尼日利亚和尼日尔之间）的移民、跨境贸易商、政府官员、民间社会组织、驾车者、居民和媒体进行了 78 次半结构化访谈。毛里塔尼亚和西撒哈拉（摩洛哥）之间。