News product | 01-02-2023 | eighteen: 54
On Wed Ms Schreinemacher and Mr Van der Burg met with members of the govt of Niger in the capital, Niamey. They spoke to the foreign minister, Hassoumi Massoudou, about the security situation in the land and cooperation on migration and development. In a ending up in President Mohamed Bazoum, they will discussed the political situation and regional cooperation in the Sahel. Microsoft Schreinemacher: ‘If we want to cease human trafficking and arms smuggling, we have to promote balance in Niger. We’re performing that by investing in agriculture plus water management, and by providing young people more prospects for the future by helping them discover work. In the long term the Netherlands may also reap the benefits of a more steady Niger. ’ The ministers also stopped at an EU mission that is training mobile border products in Niger. There, they will spoke to the Sultan associated with Agadez and various private sector organisations. Minister just for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Liesje Schreinemacher plus Minister for Migration Eric van der Burg agreed these steps with the government of Niger during a joint operating visit to the country. The exact details of the migration partnership is going to be drawn up later this year.
And also being confronted with many migrant workers en route to Europe and a increasing number of displaced persons, Niger is also dealing with cross-border criminal offense, such as people smuggling, drug trafficking and arms smuggling. It is impossible to fully secure Niger’s thousands of kilometres of border. Nevertheless, the Netherlands would like to work with Niger to explore ways of improving this situation.
In Agadez, the ministers visited a migrant center run by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The centre provides reception for migrants who have been expelled by Algeria and are unable to leave Niger. Here they can sign-up to return voluntarily to their nation of origin. The Netherlands supports IOM’s work in Niger.
Niger is a key partner for that Netherlands in the Sahel region. On Tuesday Ms Schreinemacher and Mr Van der Burg visited Agadez, where African migration routes toward Europe converge. Many irregular migrants pass through Niger on the way to Libya or Algeria, before travelling on to Europe. Mr Van dieser Burg: ‘To get a much better handle on migration, we really need effective cooperation and partnerships with other countries. Releasing this migration partnership with Niger is an important step just for both countries – in Niger it can help combat the despicable human trafficking that will goes on, and in the Netherlands it will help us tackle irregular migration. ’
