“Algiers II” International Meeting on Security in the Sahel in February 2012
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An international meeting on security in the Sahel, called “Algiers II”, is to be held on February next in a country field, announced Thursday night in Brussels, Minister in charge of Maghreb and African Affairs, Mr. Abdelkader Messahel.
- An international meeting on security in the Sahel, called “Algiers II”, is to be held on February next in a country field, announced Thursday night in Brussels, Minister in charge of Maghreb and African Affairs, Mr. Abdelkader Messahel.
"This meeting will probably take place in Bamako or Niamey. And other African countries will be invited," he said during a press briefing after the talks to which he participated with Foreign Ministers of Mali and Niger and the Ambassador of Mauritania, with the head of European diplomacy, Catherine Ashton, the High Level Task Force as well as the executive secretary of the European External Action Service, Pierre Vimont.
In addition to the first concentric circle (Algeria, Niger, Mali and Mauritania), which is the "base" of the countries directly concerned with security in the Sahel, Messahel added a second circle consisting of Nigeria, Chad and Burkina Faso . "Libya, which is poised to set up its institutions, Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt, where the transition process is underway, will also be among the participants," he added.
According to the minister, Algiers II will go to "concrete" action as with the Americans and Europeans. "There is now a situation in the region as the collateral damage caused by the Libyan crisis which should be handled urgently," he said, citing the fight against proliferation of weapons in this country where the new authorities have in fact "a priority", and the massive return of migrant workers who fled Libya to return to their countries (mainly Niger and Mali).
Messahel reported that discussions with senior EU officials in Brussels have also helped to reiterate development projects in Bamako and Niamey to develop the northern regions of their countries. "Promise was made by Europeans to explore this development programs, why not redirect some of their aid to this end," he said.- Ennaharonline/ M. O.
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