On Wednesday, the European Union’s Special Representative for the Sahel, and former Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Emanuela C. Del Re confirmed the EU’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Libya on migration issues.
This came during a meeting with the Tripoli-based Minister of Social Affairs, Wafaa Al-Kilani on the sidelines of the Regional Conference on cross-border operations between Libya and the Sahel.
The two officials discussed immigration, humanitarian aid, and women’s protection.
Del Re stated that fighting against illegal migration, terrorism, and organised crime requires greater cooperation between Libya and the countries of the Sahel – namely Algeria, Niger, Chad, Sudan, and Egypt.
“The goal is to better understand the dynamics that develop along the borders, but above all to try to favour and promote cooperation between all the states of the Sahel and Libya”, she explained. “Libya is absolutely central to all the dynamics, and the countries of the Sahel are equally protagonists,” she added.
Notably, the Deputy Chairman of Libya’s Presidential Council, Mousa Al-Koni participated in the conference as the Head of the Libyan delegation.
He apologised on behalf of the Libyan state, to all the countries that have been affected since 2011 by the unfettered flow of weapons and support for terrorist groups from Libya.
“I apologise for the security chaos we have all suffered from. These things have caused the near collapse of the state.” He also stressed the need to share “obligations to solve problems related to border security” and “developing border communities.”
Libya has for many years been a key point of transit and departure for migrants, particularly those from sub-Saharan Africa, crossing the Mediterranean to reach Europe.
On Wednesday, the European Union’s Special Representative for the Sahel, and former Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Emanuela C. Del Re confirmed the EU’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Libya on migration issues.
This came during a meeting with the Tripoli-based Minister of Social Affairs, Wafaa Al-Kilani on the sidelines of the Regional Conference on cross-border operations between Libya and the Sahel.
The two officials discussed immigration, humanitarian aid, and women’s protection.
Del Re stated that fighting against illegal migration, terrorism, and organised crime requires greater cooperation between Libya and the countries of the Sahel – namely Algeria, Niger, Chad, Sudan, and Egypt.
“The goal is to better understand the dynamics that develop along the borders, but above all to try to favour and promote cooperation between all the states of the Sahel and Libya”, she explained. “Libya is absolutely central to all the dynamics, and the countries of the Sahel are equally protagonists,” she added.
Notably, the Deputy Chairman of Libya’s Presidential Council, Mousa Al-Koni participated in the conference as the Head of the Libyan delegation.
He apologised on behalf of the Libyan state, to all the countries that have been affected since 2011 by the unfettered flow of weapons and support for terrorist groups from Libya.
“I apologise for the security chaos we have all suffered from. These things have caused the near collapse of the state.” He also stressed the need to share “obligations to solve problems related to border security” and “developing border communities.”
Libya has for many years been a key point of transit and departure for migrants, particularly those from sub-Saharan Africa, crossing the Mediterranean to reach Europe.