Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Paolo Gentiloni met today at the Farnesina with the UN Secretary General’s special envoy for the Sahel, Hiroute Guebre Sellassie. “This was an important meeting to coordinate Italy’s actions in the Sahel with the strategy the special envoy is outlining for the region”, Minister Gentiloni said.
“We are following the deep political instability and economic crisis affecting the Sahel with great attention as a result of the direct impact of these phenomena on Italy and Europe in the form of migration”, the minister continued.
Gentiloni told Sellassie that Italy based its actions in the Sahel on the conviction that security, institutional stability, socio-economic development and migration are closely linked. “We believe that today more than ever it is necessary to strengthen cooperation with the States of that region”, Gentiloni added.
The minister confirmed Italy’s commitment to the Sahel through its participation in the CSDP missions in Mali and Niger and the UN’s MINUSAMA mission in Mali, as well as through local police training activities. Mentioned also during the meeting were the Italian Development Cooperation’s many activities in Burkina Faso, Niger and Senegal.