The mission to West Africa of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani and Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi concludes today in Niger. After their visits to Nouakchott and Dakar, the two Ministers will be in Niamey for institutional meetings with the country’s highest authorities and for a visit to Italian military personnel deployed in the field.
The Ministers will meet with the President of Niger, Abdourahamane Tchiani, the Prime Minister, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bakary Yaou Sangaré, and the Minister of the Interior, Mohamed Boubacar Toumba.
Minister Tajani will reaffirm to his Nigerien counterparts Italy’s commitment to the stability and security of Niger and the wider region, as well as to local socio-economic development, including through development cooperation initiatives.
Niger is one of Italy’s priority countries for development cooperation. The Italian Cooperation’s strategy in Niger seeks to promote food security, education and vocational training, job creation and entrepreneurship, with the broader goal of addressing the root causes of migration. Development and humanitarian initiatives are currently under way for a total value of approximately EUR 94 million — EUR 20 million in concessional loans and EUR 74 million in grants.
Ministers Tajani and Piantedosi will then visit the base of the Italian Support Mission in Niger (MISIN), where they will meet the Contingent Commander, General Ivan Cioffi, and Italian service members operating in the area.
The Italian mission is now the last remaining Western military presence in the country — a tangible sign of Italy’s strong support for Niger’s stability and of its steadfast commitment to the fight against terrorism, irregular migration and illicit trafficking.
