The fight against insecurity in Libya and the Sahel, which is the cause of permanent instability and migration flows, was the focus of a meeting between European Parliament President Antonio Tajani (EPP, Italy) and President of the Republic of Chad Idriss Deby held at the office of the European Commission Representation in Rome on Tuesday 25 July.
Tajani hailed Chad's contribution to the fight against terrorism in the Sahel as crucial for stability in this region of Africa that is the target of terrorism from Boko Haram and al Quaeda. He also hailed the work of all the sub-Saharan Africa countries to curb this problem, especially through the G5 Sahel Force (see EUROPE 11802).
"To solve the problem of immigration, it is important to work in Africa and to sign agreements with the countries bordering the Mediterranean. It is also important to work in Libya to try and bring peace and to try and strengthen democracy, but it is also important to work in the south of Libya", Tajani stated, adding that "Chad is crucial for the fight against terrorism, the fight against migration and the fight against climate change".
Deby meanwhile called for a single agenda from the international community to fight terrorism. "As long as an external agenda weighs on Libya, it will be difficult to help this country. A single agenda is needed, from Europe, but also from us, the neighbouring countries of Libya, from the Arab League and the African Union. The different agendas are tearing Libya apart and give terrorist organisations the chance to take full advantage of threatening security and peace in the whole region", Deby stated. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)