In this contribution I analyse the initiatives undertaken to externalize migration control in Africa. While the European Union is striving to strengthen its partnership with African stakeholders, on the other hand there is a growing dissatisfaction at the African level with several initiatives because they are considered to be undertaken in the exclusive interest of the European Union. I argue that by externalising migration governance, the EU seeks to protect itself from migration, while at the same time becoming reliant on third countries to manage migratory flows, thus exposing itself to vulnerability and complicity in human rights abuses against migrants. In this scenario I believe that assistance through any migration agreement under which African countries prevent individuals from leaving their own countries should be limited. In my view, options allowing African countries to build their capacity to respect and protect human rights and to address their development needs should be widely preferred, in fact. No one is likely to have the intention to “invade” Europe if there is economic and political security at home