Merkel in Africa - stemming the migrant flow
- 8 years ago
Merkel in Africa
Angela Merkel has become the first German chancellor to visit Niger, one of the world’s poorest countries.
She has promised money and military vehicles to help the country fight human trafficking and the militant threat.
She is on the second leg of a three-country African tour which started in Mali and will finish in Ethiopia.
Chancellor #Merkel meets with German soldiers at air transport hub in #Niamey, #Niger. UN_MINUSMA MT: RegSprecher pic.twitter.com/SmQnBo094o— GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) October 11, 2016
How does Merkel see Africa?
She has described it as “the central problem” in the migration issue.
Last month, she said the EU needed to establish deals with North African countries, along the lines of its agreement with Turkey, to curb migrant flows across its territory to southeast Europe.
What has Merkel promised?
77 million euros and ten million in military equipment to combat people-smuggling and illegal migration in the central Agadez region.
The long-term goal is to stabilise African countries by creating better economic conditions, thereby tackling one of the root causes of migration.
Merkel announces Niger aid package to stem migrant flow during Africa trip https://t.co/G2XMeZzxaH pic.twitter.com/tu4dn4pOCW— EurActiv (@EurActiv) October 11, 2016
*“We need massively more aid” – Issoufou *
Premier entretien entre le Pdt Issoufoumhm et Mme Angela #Merkel au salon d’honneur de l'aéroport Diori Hamani. pic.twitter.com/9zQfegNrST— Présidence du Niger (PresidenceNiger) October 10, 2016
Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou welcomed Germany’s assistance.
However, he said more money is needed from EU countries to tackle the migration challenge.
“We need massively more aid,” he told reporters.
An estimated 90% of migrants who reach Libya and head for the EU across the Mediterranean have crossed through Niger.
This means the country is a crucial partner for Europe in controlling the flow of migrants.
Germany, France and Italy say they want to develop particularly closer relations with Niger and neighbouring Mali.
Bad news from home
A poll suggests support for Angela Merkel’s conservatives has dipped below the 30 percent mark for the first time.
The German Chancellor’s Social Democrat (SPD) coalition partners have gained slightly.
It is just over a year before Germany’s federal elections.
Merkel's conservatives fall to lowest level in INSA poll https://t.co/WkvY1kHqNM— Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) October 11, 2016
What the poll says
The INSA survey – published in the German newspaper, Bild – puts Merkel’s conservatives down 0.5% points at 29.5%.
The SPD gained 1% but is still far behind on 22%.
The anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) is unchanged on 15%.
What is causing the dip?
Merkel’s popularity waned after she launched
Angela Merkel has become the first German chancellor to visit Niger, one of the world’s poorest countries.
She has promised money and military vehicles to help the country fight human trafficking and the militant threat.
She is on the second leg of a three-country African tour which started in Mali and will finish in Ethiopia.
Chancellor #Merkel meets with German soldiers at air transport hub in #Niamey, #Niger. UN_MINUSMA MT: RegSprecher pic.twitter.com/SmQnBo094o— GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) October 11, 2016
How does Merkel see Africa?
She has described it as “the central problem” in the migration issue.
Last month, she said the EU needed to establish deals with North African countries, along the lines of its agreement with Turkey, to curb migrant flows across its territory to southeast Europe.
What has Merkel promised?
77 million euros and ten million in military equipment to combat people-smuggling and illegal migration in the central Agadez region.
The long-term goal is to stabilise African countries by creating better economic conditions, thereby tackling one of the root causes of migration.
Merkel announces Niger aid package to stem migrant flow during Africa trip https://t.co/G2XMeZzxaH pic.twitter.com/tu4dn4pOCW— EurActiv (@EurActiv) October 11, 2016
*“We need massively more aid” – Issoufou *
Premier entretien entre le Pdt Issoufoumhm et Mme Angela #Merkel au salon d’honneur de l'aéroport Diori Hamani. pic.twitter.com/9zQfegNrST— Présidence du Niger (PresidenceNiger) October 10, 2016
Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou welcomed Germany’s assistance.
However, he said more money is needed from EU countries to tackle the migration challenge.
“We need massively more aid,” he told reporters.
An estimated 90% of migrants who reach Libya and head for the EU across the Mediterranean have crossed through Niger.
This means the country is a crucial partner for Europe in controlling the flow of migrants.
Germany, France and Italy say they want to develop particularly closer relations with Niger and neighbouring Mali.
Bad news from home
A poll suggests support for Angela Merkel’s conservatives has dipped below the 30 percent mark for the first time.
The German Chancellor’s Social Democrat (SPD) coalition partners have gained slightly.
It is just over a year before Germany’s federal elections.
Merkel's conservatives fall to lowest level in INSA poll https://t.co/WkvY1kHqNM— Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) October 11, 2016
What the poll says
The INSA survey – published in the German newspaper, Bild – puts Merkel’s conservatives down 0.5% points at 29.5%.
The SPD gained 1% but is still far behind on 22%.
The anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) is unchanged on 15%.
What is causing the dip?
Merkel’s popularity waned after she launched