Systems and standards
IOM MIDAS in Africa
Short answer
- Full name
- Migration Information and Data Analysis System 2
- Whose system
- IOM describes MIDAS as its own border management information system 1
- Data owner
- The government, with no data stored by IOM, per IOM in 2017 1
- Countries in 2017
- 19 countries and 125 border crossing points, with 17 African countries cited on a later slide 1
- Largest deployment
- Nigeria, per IOM in December 2020 2
What MIDAS does
IOM describes MIDAS as a border management information system that collects, processes, stores and analyses traveller information in real time. It lets states monitor who enters and leaves and gives statistics for migration policy 6.
In Nigeria IOM said MIDAS checks entry and exit data against national and international watchlists, including INTERPOL's, and synchronises data in real time between airports and the immigration headquarters in Abuja 2.
A 2017 IOM presentation said MIDAS stores biometric data, has no ongoing costs, suits remote areas and can be customised. It said governments have full and exclusive ownership of the data 1.
Where IOM records show MIDAS in Africa
| Country | Site | Funder named | Record date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria 2 | Abuja and Lagos airports, 56 processing points. MIDAS launched at five international airports in November 2019 2 | Government of Canada (IRCC) 2 | 31 December 2020 2 |
| Nigeria 1 | Jibya border with Niger and Mfum border with Cameroon 1 | European Union for Jibya 1 | April 2017 1 |
| Ghana 3 | Five northern land crossings: Hamile, Kulungugu, Namoo, Mognori and Pulmakom 3 | US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, for the post upgrades 3 | 24 June 2024 3 |
| The Gambia 4 | Tabanding border post, Central River Region 4 | Not named. Described as UN-supported 4 | 4 August 2024 4 |
| Togo 5 | Kemerida border post, Kara region 5 | German Federal Foreign Office 5 | 24 June 2022 5 |
| Malawi 6 | Mchinji border post on the Zambia border 6 | European Union, for the cross-border trade initiative MIDAS supports 6 | 13 December, year not shown 6 |
| Burkina Faso 7 | Dakola, Madouba and Yendere crossings 7 | Government of Japan 7 | Undated IOM page 7 |
| South Sudan 8 | Majokyithiu point of entry, Northern Bahr el Ghazal 8 | Japan Supplementary Budget 8 | Undated IOM release 8 |
Who does what
- IOM supplies the software, equipment and training and hands them over to the national immigration or police service 2,6.
- Foreign governments or the EU pay for the project. In Nigeria the 2020 equipment came from Canada through IOM 2.
- The national border agency runs the system. In Ghana the Ghana Immigration Service uses MIDAS at its northern posts 3. In Burkina Faso the Minister of Territorial Administration, Decentralization and Homeland Security received it for the National and Border Police 7.
Reported results
At Jibya, MIDAS created about 16,750 electronic records in its first 18 weeks. At Mfum, a fraudulent ePassport was detected within two weeks of going online, according to the 2017 IOM presentation 1.
In The Gambia, a UN story said staff at Tabanding had used paper ledgers a few months before and that MIDAS helped them identify a traveller carrying fake documents 4.
In December 2020 IOM said half of the Lagos processing points and half of the Abuja booths had lacked such systems before the Canadian-funded equipment 2.
Common questions
Who owns the data in MIDAS?
A 2017 IOM presentation said governments have full and exclusive ownership of the traveller data and IOM stores none of it 1.
Does MIDAS check INTERPOL databases?
In Nigeria IOM said it checks entry and exit data against national and international watchlists, including INTERPOL's 2.
How many countries use MIDAS?
A 2017 IOM presentation cited 19 countries and, on a later slide, 17 African countries. This site has not found a newer official count 1.
Where is MIDAS used in Ghana?
IOM said in June 2024 that it supports Ghana Immigration Service operations at five northern land crossings 3.
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Sources
- ID4Africa, Charles M. Harns, IOM Nigeria: Enhancing Security and Development in Africa (April 2017)
- United Nations Nigeria: UN, Canada Hand Over MIDAS Equipment to Nigeria Immigration Service as International Travel Resumes (31 December 2020)
- United Nations Ghana, Angela Bortey: IOM Upgrades Border Posts in Upper East Region to Security (24 June 2024)
- United Nations The Gambia, Abdoulie Badjie, Yahya Jammeh and Lamin W. Sanneh: A New Dawn at The Gambia's Borders: Aissatou's Digital Journey (4 August 2024)
- IOM: IOM Supports Safe and Orderly Migration Through the Inauguration of a Modern Border Post in Kemerida (24 June 2022)
- IOM: Launch of Migration, Information and Data Analysis System at Zambia-Malawi Border (13 December, year not shown)
- IOM: Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS) Goes Online in Burkina Faso (undated)
- IOM via ReliefWeb: IOM Hands Over Improved Immigration Infrastructure to Government of South Sudan (undated)
Related
- What is border management technology?
Plain definitions of the systems African states use at borders: ePassports and the ICAO PKD, MIDAS, API and PNR, e-visas, ETAs and e-gates.
- Nigeria border technology
Nigeria's ICAO PKD membership, IOM MIDAS, e-gates, the e-visa and landing card, and NIS border system training, from public records.
- Ghana border technology
What public records show about Ghana's e-gates at Kotoka International Airport, the Ghana Card at the border and the Thales e-Immigration work.
- UN Security Council resolution 2396 and African states
What resolution 2396 of 21 December 2017 requires on API, PNR, watchlists and biometrics, and the UN records on African states putting it in place.
- Tanzania border technology
Tanzania's EAC e-passport from January 2018, HID Global's e-Immigration role per its own statement, MIDAS, ICAO PKD and cargo tracking, with sources.