Biometrics in Africa - followed by an interview: the uses of biometrics in Semlex

Africa is now at the leading edge of technology with the introduction of biometric official documents in many countries. Mozambique, Gabon, Comoros islands and Guinea-Bissau (to name a few) are now using biometric passports and biometric identity cards. These official documents content personal data and also the owner’s fingerprints, which are unique and thus impossible to copy.

Semlex created the BNS,

 a large database of biometric information which can be used in many fields.

The company producing biometric documents for those countries is Semlex Group, a company based in Brussels. Semlex Group is specialized in biometric identification systems and the realization of passports, identity cards, visas and other official documents (driving licenses, work permits, etc.) equipped with electronic and biometric security.

Albert Karaziwan, Semlex's CEO

Semlex works with governments and offers them highly secured documents equipped by many security features. A biometric passport’s authenticity can be verified by many features such as UV fibers, paper with specific characteristics, watermark, optically variable ink (OVI), Anti scan/copy patterns, and many more.  

The belgian company has now produced official documents for many countries in Africa: DR of Congo, Gabon, Comoros, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, and attends Interpol's General Assembly every year.

Countries in Africa in which Semlex introduced biometric identification systems

Semlex Group is currently working in Mozambique, producing biometric visas, e-passports, residence permit for foreigners, national identity cards and biometric border control, all this assuring security at a large scale of the country. The whole project in Mozambique can be seen in a movie, displaying a complete solution from the production of the identity documents in europe until the delivery in Mozambique: ---> See full movie here <--- 

Interview: Ralph Hajjar, commercial engineer at Semlex Group

Ralph Hajjar is working at the Semlex group as a commercial engineer since 2003. In this interview, he explains the different uses of biometrics, and how it brings security to official documents. He then tells us about the company Semlex’s current work in Africa and new projects with governments.

Interviewer: Mr. E. Figaro (blogger)

Interviewee: Mr. R. Hajjar (Semlex Group)

EF: How does the company Semlex differentiates itself from other companies on the security documents market?

RH: We propose complete solutions, a long-term project from the conception until the delivery of the complete system, followed by the monitoring of the project until the end of the contract. This includes the opening of offices on territories, the training of new employees and the constant production of documents provided by our technicians. And more importantly, we respond to the needs of our customers.

EF: How does the BNS System created by Semlex work? How does it strengthen the security of identity documents?  

R.H.: “BNS” means Biometric Network System. We chose that term to describe the centralization of biometric data in a national server in which each individual has a unique identification number, which will follow him all his life. All official documents –ID, passport, driver license and so on- are created on the basis of this identification number, the fingerprint of the individual and his personal informations. We are currently moving to a new generation of software, the “Web AFIS” [Automated Fingerprints Identification System], which uses fingerprints to recognize individuals.

Biometric e-passport of Mozambique ®Semlex Group

In what ways does the system AFIS differentiates itself from the former system, the BNS?

It is more complete. It will allow us to adapt to each service and project in particular. In comparison, the BNS System is less easily adaptable to each country’s needs, we can do it but it requires more effort than with the AFIS System. So now we are creating a new software with new technologies, new writing techniques easier to handle. The goal is to make the system simpler and more efficient.

“All official documents (…) are created on the basis of [an] identification number, fingerprints and the civilians’ personal informations.”

Except the countries in which you already work [Senegal, Kenya and Nigeria for example], where are your new projects located?

In Mozambique. This is more than just a project, it is a whole program that was established in partnership with the Government of Mozambique. This is an agreement we had with the State to supply a complete identification system. This identification system includes the creation of a unique identification number: each person who will be introduced in our system will have a folder created with the number of his province, his district, and its unique number identification. From this number, the biometric ID card is edited and then the passport can simply be produced on the basis of the identity card. Besides that, we also deal with the migration service in Mozambique. We related the foreigner’s database and the identity cards database to verify that there are no foreigner’s attempts to have an identity card illegally. We also produce biometric residence permits for foreigners, and have created a system of visa delivery at the airport. Semlex also set up a system of border control for inputs and outputs at the airport. This is a system that reads Mozambican and foreign documents and records the passage of individuals by taking their fingerprints and photo.

Did you already use the Border Control System in other countries?

Yes we have, for instance we just installed it in Comoros. The first border control installed by Semlex was in Gabon. The one we use now in Mozambique has important features dealing with the registry of all civilians and the registration of passages of all people. For instance when someone crosses the border for the first time, he is registered and if when he will come back we will find him in the database using the fingerprints recognition, even if he presents himself with another passport. This prevents from identity theft. We also set up a “watch list” of wanted persons –for example someone who stole a passport- using information we have about the criminal (photo, fingerprints or the stolen passport’s number).

“Semlex takes all the [financial] risks, even in countries economically unstable.”

What type of funding is proposed to governments by Semlex?

Semlex’s business model is a bit different than others’ companies, because we do not seek to only sell a solution to our customers and then leave then. The idea is that since we are offering systems which are difficult to manage without training, we propose to follow projects from beginning to end. Thus we propose to governments 5 to 10-year projects with quality material assurance and mostly, we propose to finance the whole project. So in this type of contract, the State doesn’t invest money and receives a part of the revenue. Semlex takes all the risks, even in countries economically unstable. For us the most important is not the cost of the project, it is the result.

How is your staff composed in the different African countries?

There are two types of staff. First we have the State’s operators of the country in question. Those people are paid by the State, and trained by us to use Semlex’s equipment. Then there is the staff from Semlex team working on the spot in different countries. For example, in Mozambique we count 25 Semlex’s employees. In this vast country –about 3000 km-long- we have a lot of missions where we have to ensure the maintenance of services -500 machines through the 11 Mozambican provinces.

 Do you train local people for you projects in Africa? Do you create jobs?

Yes, and mostly in Mozambique, which is currently our major project. In all our projects, it is important to us to transmit an expertise, to train people.

This interview was translated by kind authorization of the author E. Figaro, blogger for “Nouvelles d’Afrique”

Portuguese translation also available here

Other Sources: Dailymotion, Slideshare, Biometric News, Interpol.