Niger is a "strategic ally" of
Italy's in Africa, Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said after
meeting his counterpart Ibrahim Yacoubou in Niamey Wednesday,
the Italian foreign ministry said.
"The friendship between our countries is becoming closer,"
Alfano said.
Niger is the first stage of a three-country trip that will
also take in Senegal and Guinea.
Earlier Alfano tweeted: "just landed in #Niger for African
mission, which will also take me to #Senegal and #Guinea. Focus
on Italian priorities: security, migrant flows and partnership
for development".
Alfano went on to inaugurate the Italian embassy in Niamey,
Italy's first in the whole of the Sahel region.
"Here we have invested in cooperation and security and we
have reaped the fruits," he said.
New Ambassador Marco Prencipe was appointed and took on his
duties at the start of 2017.
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