The Italian Parliament has approved an upgraded military presence in Niger by agreeing to send an initial 120 troops with 350 more to follow as Rome looks to stem migration and people-trafficking of African migrants. At the end of last year, Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said he would redeploy some troops to North Africa from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The resolution and deployment to both Libya and Niger are in a bid to stabilize the region which will reduce the number of migrants that reach Italian shore posing a great threat. The mostly African immigrants first cross the Sahel states to reach Libya, where they set off in boats for Italy. More than 600,000 have come in the past four years.
The Niger mission was announced as Italy joined France and the United States, which already have troops there, in efforts to help President Mahamadou Issoufou better control Niger’s territory and borders.
Earlier in the week five Sahel countries — Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso — launched their second anti-jihadist operation in the troubled region, after talks in Paris with their partner France. Therefore, the increase of troops by Italy comes just as the United Kingdom has increased its commitment to help France in the same.
Italian troops will reinforce instruments of territorial and border control and reinforce local police forces. They will also guarantee stability in the area and fight illegal trafficking of migrants.
