AA/Niamey/Salif Omar
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced on Sunday the dispatch of a high-level mission to Niger to assess the situation of West African nationals stranded in the country. , while on their way to Europe.
“From September 25 to 30, 2022, a high-level mission from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) led by Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, Commissioner in charge of Human Development and Social Affairs of the ECOWAS Commission, will travel to Niamey in the Republic of Niger to discuss with Nigerien authorities and the International Office for Migration (IOM), the situation of citizens from the region stranded in the country during transit migration to Africa North and Europe,” said a statement from the ECOWAS Commission.
“In Niger, the mission composed of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the most affected Member States or their representatives (Guinea, Nigeria, Mali, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Gambia, Sierra Leone and Benin), will assess the situation and discuss sustainable and effective strategies to address the challenges faced by nationals of the West African region in terms of transit migration”, added the same source, specifying that “the mission will also meet with the representatives of Member States on how to facilitate the voluntary repatriation and resettlement of migrants in transit stranded in Niger and the drafting of a detailed report on the situation, including the identification of profiles of vulnerable migrants and returnees in order to to help”.
Due to its geographical position, Niger has become the place of transit for migrants from African countries, including those of ECOWAS, wishing to go to Europe via Maghreb countries such as Libya and Algeria.
Following an agreement signed in 2016 with the European Union to combat illegal migration, Niger has set up checkpoints in the Agadez region bordering Libya and Algeria. Many migrants who do not meet the conditions of exile are automatically blocked on their way to reach Europe. Several hundred other migrants arrested in Algeria or Libya are also being repatriated to the same region of Agadez.
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