Niger requests EU aid to fund its anti-migration programme

Niger’s president Issoufou Mahamadou is urging the European Union to help Niger with funds which will be used in implementing its anti-migration policy.

President Issoufou discussed this wish during a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel whom he believes can be a good advocate at the European level.

“Libya today is in a very difficult situation, a chaotic situation so it would be better to try and find a solution before the migrants arrive in Libya. Most of these migrants pass through Niger and Niger can do something by setting up welcome centres with the possibility of returning the migrants to their countries of origin,” President Issoufou said.

President Issoufou was speaking just after 34 bodies of migrants were abandoned in Niger.

The recently re-elected president hopes 700 million euros can be sufficient for the launch of this programme. Angela Merkel believes priority now should be focused on giving assistance to migrants on Libyan soil.

“What’s important in my view right now is the humanitarian support, where we have to think about what else we can do for humanitarian development from the German side and what the international community needs to do. The overall need determined by the international aid organisations is by far not yet covered,” German Chancellor, Angela Merkel said.

The German Chancellor stressed that development and security are linked and western countries are increasingly paying attention to these aspects.