Source: Government of Italy (English)
The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, today co-chaired the Aqaba Process meeting on the fight against terrorism and violent extremism in western Africa, together with King Abdullah II of Jordan.
More than thirty delegations participated in the meeting.
Among the leaders present, the Presidents of Chad, Nigeria, Paraguay and Sierra Leone, the President of the Council of Togo and the President of the Council of the Nation (upper house of Parliament) of Algeria. Attendees also included several delegations at ministerial level and special envoys for the region as well as international experts in the field.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss strategies to fight the phenomena of terrorism and violent extremism, analysing in particular action to eliminate terrorist financing by combatting the link with transnational organised crime and the trafficking of drugs, arms and human beings.
During the meeting, President Meloni spoke with participants about the new paradigm in relations with Africa through the Mattei Plan, with the goal of addressing the root causes of instability and terrorism through investments in human capital and sustainable development. President Meloni also discussed strategies to combat the link between terrorism and crime, bringing Italy’s experience in fighting not only terrorism but also mafia organisations, human traffickers and drug traffickers.
In the margins of the event, President Meloni had bilateral meetings with King Abdullah II of Jordan, President Tinubu of Nigeria, President Déby Itno of Chad, President Bio of Sierra Leone, and President Gnassinbé of Togo.