The 9th semi-annual Meeting of the Special Envoys for the Sahel, chaired by Italy, was held today in virtual mode.
Opening the meeting together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mauritania, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, Minister Di Maio reminded that the stability of the Sahel is of fundamental importance for the security not only of Africa but also of Europe. For this reason, in recent years, Italy has increased its commitment in the Region, joining the main international initiatives in the region and recently deciding to open an Embassy in Mali, which follows on the opening of diplomatic Missions in Niger and Burkina Faso. Minister Di Maio also stressed the importance of the involvement of the African Union and African Countries in the programmes for the Sahel, expressing the hope that the security aspect and support to civil society will become essential parts of an all-inclusive strategy shared with the Countries involved. Finally, Mr. Di Maio announced his intention to visit the Region in the near future.
During the meeting, updates and assessments on the political, economic and security situation in the Sahel region were also shared, with a special focus on the latest developments in the Malian crisis.
