On 17 December, on the occasion of the celebrations of the 63rd anniversary of the birth of the Federal Republic of Niger, the president Mohamed Bazoum, delivered a long speech to the nation, highlighting economic efforts to combat the pandemic and the scourge of terrorism. For the first time theItaly was counted among the countries contributing to the security of the African nation: “This is the place for me to express my gratitude to the United States of America, France, Germany, Belgium, Canada e Italy whose considerable support has contributed to considerably improve the level of our security forces and their equipment ”.
Our country is present in that territory with the “Bilateral support mission in the Republic of Niger - MISIN"(With the geographical area of intervention also extended to Mauritania, Nigeria and Benin) in order to increase the capacities aimed at combating the phenomenon of illegal trafficking and security threats, as part of a joint European and US effort for the stabilization of area and the strengthening of territorial control capacities by the Nigerian authorities and the G5 Sahel countries.
The mission, in addition to border and territory control, supports the Nigerian authorities and the G5 Sahel countries (Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Chad and Burkina Faso), to develop the capabilities of the Nigerian security forces (Armed Forces, National Gendarmerie , National Guard and Special Forces of the Republic of Niger).
The military contingent includes teams for reconnaissance and command and control, teams of trainers, to be employed also at the Defense College in Mauritania, health team, engineering personnel for infrastructure works, detection team against chemical-biological-radiological-nuclear (CBRN) threats , support units, force protection units, information collection, surveillance and reconnaissance units in support of operations (ISR).
Since January 2018, the Italian contingent has provided 238 courses for over 5800 attendees. MISIN, through its CIMIC function (Civil-Military Cooperation, civil-military collaboration) has also supported the Embassy of Italy in Niger in the donations of medicines, first reception facilities, health facilities and equipment for the prevention and treatment of the most common pathologies in the country.
Last December 16 there was also the change to the command of the Italian mission MISIN, the Brigadier General of the Army, Alexander Grassano handed over command to the pilot colonel of the Air Force, Davide Cipelletti.
The handover ceremony was presided over by the major general Francis BRUNO, Head of the Operational Support Department of the Joint Forces Operational Command (COVI), in the presence of SE Emilia CAT, Ambassador of Italy to Niger, of Dr. Pierpaolo SERPICO, of the Crisis Unit of the MAECI and of the Nigerian military authorities, including the Commander of the Aerienne base 101 which hosts the Italian contingent.
The event, preceded by a visit to Defense personnel operating in Mali as part of the Task Force "TAKUBA ", took place in the area where the 6th Genio Pionieri started the construction works of the new Italian base in Niamey, future hub logistic and operational for national activities in the Sahel area.