The Sahel region effectively constitutes Europe’s southern frontier and holds strategic importance for Italy in terms of security, migration management and the fight against illicit trafficking, all of which are exacerbated by the region’s fragile economic and institutional fabric.
The Sahel is marked by socio-economic vulnerability, environmental fragility, fragmentation, and weak institutional presence in peripheral areas. Additional factors of instability—including climate change, demographic pressures, the pandemic and jihadist extremism—continue to aggravate the situation.
In coordination with the EU, Italy is strengthening its engagement in the stabilisation of the region, promoting a balanced approach that combines security assistance, institutional capacity-building and Development Cooperation. Italy’s efforts include the activities of MISIN (the Italian military training mission supporting Nigerien forces), participation in EU missions, and support for the role of regional organisations such as ECOWAS and the African Union.
In West Africa, the interconnections between sustainability, peace, counterterrorism, the fight against organised crime and illicit trafficking, development, social progress, migration and refugee flows, and climate change are particularly evident.
Italy is committed to directing its cooperation resources and promoting private investment in priority sectors such as training, education and the development of local entrepreneurship. Dialogue on human rights and governance also remains essential.