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By Martin Igwe, The Director Media & Advocacy, West African Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA Nigeria) On behalf of member of the network of non-governmental organizations that partners and collaborates with West African Action network on small arms Nigeria I welcome all delegates to this year world border security congress meant to continue Advancing Border Security Strategies through co-operation and Technology development. Yes, the Corona Virus outbreak has certainly highlighted the need for more secure border management sharing of intelligence and international co-operation in dealing with crossborder crimes. For all delegates to maximize this annual Global opportunity, we must be objective, rational on issues knowing fully well that the cause of Border Insecurity in Mali may be different from Turkey, Greece, Morocco and Mexico.

Generally Borders are important

resource for local population who take advantage of difference in price & taxes or production between different countries. Example can be seen in the case of Mali which has been historically connected at economic level with Algeria (Schedule 2011) Fuel and several food products like Semolina Floor and pasta are heavily subsidized in Algeria before 2012 Coup. This cross border transaction stood about 150 million dollars while legitimate of import between Algeria & Mali stood at only $2m (Bensassi et al 2017). This illegal transborder trade most times are accompanied by the presence of armed groups who are manipulated in most times by international interest to target Resources in some African Countries, since the confirmation of National availability of Gold in commercial quantity in northwest Nigeria. This zone has been made a war zone by conflict entrepreneurs. There are alleged policy diversity that exist between three regional political entities like economic community of West African State, African Union and Gs Sahel – Mali Historically has been hostile to any coercive approach to migration (DEMBELE 2010) (Trauner and Deimel 2013) during Ben Ali Regime in Tunisia, smuggling was “tolerated” by the Central authorities because it allowed population in the south of the country to create income and employment. Spanish government is a great beneficiary of historic trafficking of WEST AFRICA ACTION NETWORK ON SMALL ARMS NIGERIA CHAPTER, GLOBAL PEACE AND OTHER PARTNER NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS DURING ADVOCACY VISIT TO THE CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, GEN. BUBA MARWA (RTD) IN ABUJA

contraband merchandise through Northern Morocco hence to address the status of Ceuta and Melilla has lingered. This contraband economy has made Morocco loose funds that could have been used to overhaul their economy, upgrade infrastructure and strengthen its competiveness at regional and global level thereby directly affecting the reduction of migrants from Africa to Europe. Despite the America backed alliance for prosperity (A4P). the northern triangle has remain among the poorest in the western hemisphere, decades of Civil War and Political instability have planted seed for the complex criminal ecosystem that encourage the emergence of Mara Slavatruch (MS13) Eighteen Street Gangs (M18). Movement of unaccompanied children from Honduras, Guatemala, El-Salvador, Mexico to United States continue to increase. United States policies of “Remain in Mexico, Title 42, “Metering” has multiplied the number of migrants at Mexico border. While 2022 World border Security Congress offers another opportunity to confront issues challenges and solutions. Our appeal is for extraction of commitment from concerned state adhere to the new tool, techniques management options and organizational model capable of solving existing border insecurity situation as threats differ from states to states. As we make another quantum step to advance the course of our Border Security. Great kudos to organizers, may the Global Economy be the greatest beneficiary of this initiative towards sustainable development. Welcome to LISBON