Italy promises €4.8 million to check human trafficking in Libya,Niger 

 Italy has pledged €4.8million to address the menace of human trafficking in Libya. 

The Foreign Minister,  Antonio Tajani  announced the  new  initiatives in a statement by the foreign ministry. 

The statement said that Tajani pledged 4.8 million euros to help victims of human trafficking in the two countries during a visit to Rome by the president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum.

The funding will go to projects managed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) that assist victims with voluntary repatriation to their countries of origin, as well as medical and psychological support. Some of the money will also go towards capacity building for Libyan and Nigerien authorities.

Observers have questioned whether the 4.8 million euros will truly help curb irregular migration and human trafficking. Critics argue the money could end up in the wrong hands in Libya’s unstable political climate. There is also concern that rather than repatriating migrants, the funds may go towards settling them permanently in Libya without addressing the root causes driving them to leave their home countries. The intentions behind Italy’s pledge remain unclear.

Tajani reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to cooperate with Libya and Niger to dismantle human smuggling and trafficking networks. He emphasized the importance of creating legal pathways for migration.

The foreign minister said stable and secure living conditions must be guaranteed in the countries of origin to address the root causes of irregular migration flows.