German Chancellor Angela Merkel to meet with Niger President Mohamed Bazoum
Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum will visit Berlin today to hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The two leaders are prepared to discuss current bilateral relations, with Merkel expected to present Berlin’s plans to address regional issues, such as terrorism, migration and human security.
Berlin is likely to increase its defense aid to the countries bordering Lake Chad in the short- to medium-term to combat the mounting insurgencies, particularly in Niger’s Tillaberi Region bordering Burkina Faso, Mali and Benin. In this context, Berlin will offer to boost the training programs of Niamey’s police officers and soldiers through the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP)—the EU’s agency for global peace-keeping. Berlin will also boost financial assistance to Niamey’s terror-impacted citizens through the EU’s Trust Fund for Africa.
In the long-term, Germany will likely develop projects for Niger to boost its border security and stop illegal migration and cross-border insurgent evasion tactics. In this context, Berlin will likely provide capital for Sahel nations to construct better border facilities and migration camps. Doing so may triage the flow of migrants seeking asylum from the insurgency-stricken region. Nevertheless, Berlin’s expensive initiative may ultimately fail due to the instability and violence in the Sahel.
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