“Niger has now become a strategic ally in our foreign policy in Africa. In order to testify to our emboldened partnership, Italy dedicated an outreach session of the G7 Summit to Africa, strongly wanting Niger to be included among the participants, and has recently opened an Embassy in Niamey. In addition, two important agreements were signed this year: the Agreement providing a 50 million euro funding to the budget and the Defence Cooperation Agreement. In this sector, our security forces trained more than 100 Nigerians in the last five-year period and new courses are planned for 2018, to be attended by 40 Nigerien officials.
This reinforced cooperation with Niger is bearing excellent results also on controlling migration flows. The data issued by the IOM show a net reduction in the number of migrants entering Libya from Niger and an increase in the number of voluntary repatriations from Niger to the Countries of origin.”
The statement was made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano, following his meeting with his Nigerien counterpart, Ibrahim Yacoubou, on the fringes of the Rome-MED Forum.
