The African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL) held today, June 3, 2026, at its headquarters in Algiers, the debriefing session concluding the second edition of the joint AFRIPOL–German Federal Police Helpdesk Action Week, dedicated to the examination of suspicious travel documents and facial comparison. Supported by the European Union and organized in partnership with Punto Antenas, the operation brought together more than 70 Member States and partners across three continents: Africa, Europe, and South America. Operational Cooperation on a Global Scale For this second edition, AFRIPOL adopted an innovative operational model: travel document experts from African Union Member States, Germany, and Spain were co-located at AFRIPOL headquarters in Algiers, working side by side to provide remote support to officers deployed in the field. This integrated setup enabled faster coordination, richer exchanges of expertise, and a more seamless response to assistance requests submitted from border control points. The objective of the operation was to provide expert support to frontline officers confronted with suspicious document cases exceeding their local analytical capabilities, thereby enabling informed real-time decision-making in operational environments. Remarkable Growth Since the First Edition The first edition of this Helpdesk mechanism, organized in December 2023, brought together 16 African Member States. Requests for expert support were then routed through AFRIPOL and examined remotely by specialists based in Germany. The success of this pioneering initiative demonstrated the relevance and value of a collaborative expertise-support mechanism. Building on these achievements, the second edition marked a decisive milestone, expanding participation from 16 to more than 70 Member States and partner organizations. This remarkable growth reflects the effectiveness of the mechanism, the confidence placed in AFRIPOL and its partners, and the shared recognition that international cooperation remains one of the most effective tools in combating transnational crime. A Strategic Challenge: Combating Document Fraud The detection of fraudulent travel documents is a critical component of efforts to combat transnational organized crime, terrorism, and human trafficking. Criminal networks systematically exploit weaknesses in document control systems to facilitate their illicit activities. This Helpdesk mechanism directly addresses this challenge by strengthening the capabilities of frontline officers and ensuring an effective operational response. Partnerships at the Core of Success During the debriefing session, Dr. Mohammed Benaired, representing AFRIPOL, paid tribute to the partners who made this initiative possible: the German Federal Police for its crucial technical assistance, Punto Antenas for its operational commitment, and the European Union for its financial support. He also commended the professionalism of the participating document experts, who temporarily left their regular duties to contribute to this mission, as well as the vigilance of frontline officers who submitted requests and actively engaged throughout the exercise.
