Musings From Abroad

Military intervention in Niger might cause migration ‘disaster’— Italian FM, Antonio Tajani

Published

1 year ago

August 31, 2023

Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani has raised fear that a military intervention in Niger following the coup might trigger a migration “disaster.”

There have been talks about the possibility of deploying military force to restore democratic order following the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

West African bloc, ECOWAS, has been attempting to reach a settlement with the coup leaders who took over last month, but has warned that if talks break down, it is prepared to send soldiers into Niger to re-establish constitutional order.

“(A) military solution (would) be a disaster,” Tajani told reporters as he arrived at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in the Spanish city of Toledo. “We need to work day by day for a diplomatic solution.”

Hassoumi Massoudou, the deposed government’s foreign minister, and Omar Touray, the head of the ECOWAS Commission, will speak at the meeting which will focus mostly on the Niger problem.

When asked if he was worried that military action may trigger a migratory catastrophe, Tajani responded: “Of course, I say. Similar to how more and more people are leaving Sudan, more people would leave Niger if there is a war there.”

African immigrants notably exploit the coasts of Libya to cross the Mediterranean Sea in significant numbers in an effort to arrive on Italian shores.

The majority are from Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, and Eritrea. The migration path is perilous and frequently unsuccessful.

Related Topics:#niger Featured Italy Migration

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Musings From Abroad

Brazilian meatpacker JBS invests $2.5 billion in Nigeria, builds six facilities

Published

2 days ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Brazilian meatpacker JBS says it has inked a memorandum of understanding with the Nigerian government for a $2.5 billion investment plan that will include the construction of six new plants in the African nation.

Three of the plants would deal in poultry, two in beef, and one in pork, according to a statement from JBS.

In accordance with the memorandum of understanding, JBS stated that it would develop a five-year investment plan in Nigeria, which would include budget estimates, feasibility studies, and an action plan for the development of the local supply chain.

The Nigerian government would then guarantee the sanitary, regulatory, and economic conditions required for the project’s viability, JBS continued.

Musings From Abroad

China’s Xi meets with Morocco’s Crown Prince

Published

2 days ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Morocco’s official media reports that Chinese President, Xi Jinping, visited Morocco briefly on Thursday.

According to Morocco’s MAP, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan welcomed Xi in Casablanca. The visit demonstrated the close ties of camaraderie, collaboration, and solidarity between the Moroccan and Chinese peoples, it said.

China’s official broadcaster, CCTV, said that Xi and Hassan had a “cordial conversation” at the airport after being received by the Crown Prince and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.

After attending the G20 Summit in Brazil, Xi paid the visit.

In recent years, China has increased its investments in Morocco’s rail and infrastructure. Morocco is desirable for Chinese electric car battery manufacturers because of its proximity to Europe, free trade agreements with important EU and US markets, and an established automotive sector.

Morocco was chosen by Chinese EV battery company Gotion High Tech in June to establish Africa’s first gigafactory, which will cost $1.3 billion in total.