Side event, 12th session of the Conference of the Parties to UNTOC: Unraveling the links between European and African organized crime groups

The impact of foreign criminal actors in Africa has steadily increased since 2019. Vast and porous borders, systemic corruption, abundant natural resources and low use of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and extradition treaties make Africa attractive to foreign criminal enterprises. And foreign criminal actors are attracted to Europe’s well-integrated international trade flows.

The side event provides the latest information on the links between European and African criminal groups and actors, their activities and illegal markets. The event will highlight the implications for national and regional security and discuss strategies to dismantle these activities, including through better implementation of UNTOC.

This event is co-organized by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), INTERPOL and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC).

Moderator: Anabella Corridoni, Analytical Coordinator, INTERPOL

Opening Remarks: EU representative

Panelists:

• Nathalia Durkhan, Director of the Central Africa Observatory, GI-TOC
• Zobel Behalal, Senior Analyst, GI-TOC
• Yann le Cloarec, Criminal Intelligence Analyst, INTERPOL
• Dr. Willis Okumu, ENACT Senior Researcher, Regional Organized Crime Observatory East Africa, ISS