20260303 FRONTEX auf Abwegen

03.03.2026 FRONTEX auf Abwegen

First FRONTEX base on the African continent

After negotiations between FRONTEX headquarters in Warsaw and Senegal and Mauritania failed, FRONTEX simply created a fait accompli. Without a corresponding agreement, cooperation between Cape Verde, located further south, and the refugee defense organization began in phase 1. FRONTEX is allowed to launch air surveillance operations from the Cape Verdean capital Praia. This makes Cape Verde the first African state to allow such a deployment of Frontex in an African country.

Without a corresponding agreement, it is not possible to exchange the collected data with FRONTEX. According to the agency, this agreement should be finalized by phase 2. However, this will not offer any hope for refugee boats in distress. FRONTEX informs the relevant coastal states, which are then supposed to tow the boats and, hopefully, the people on board to shore.

Frontex Fundamental Rights Officer Jonas Grimheden is not enthusiastic about his agency's approach. In particular, he is calling for a ban on non-refoulement. This means a ban on sending people back to countries where they face persecution.