19/01/2022
For two years, France and Spain will work in Niger to strengthen the criminal justice system in terrorist offences and achieve a safer territory
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With almost 6,000 kilometres of borders that are difficult to control, and a central position between Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Libya, Niger is exposed to the movement of criminal and terrorist groups. The country is at the crossroads of trafficking that includes drugs, weapons and/or migrants, specifically the city of Agadez, which is a key point for trafficking, both within Africa and to Europe.
In response to a need of the Nigerien interior and justice ministries, the European Union finances the ECI CT Niger (Joint Investigation Team Against Terrorism in Niger) project, whose objective is to strengthen the capabilities of the Nigerien security forces to continue improving the territory’s security.
For two years, CIVIPOL (France) and the Spanish National Police, through the FIIAPP, will work hand in hand to support the Nigerien police in the effective operation of the criminal justice system in counter-terrorism offences.
The project’s main lines of action are: strengthening the capabilities of the Central Service for the Fight against Terrorism and Cross-Border Organised Crime (SCLCT/CTO). In addition, work will be done to improve the judicial treatment of terrorism cases, and regional cooperation in this area will be strengthened.
To achieve its objectives, the project will rely on the creation of a JIT (Joint Investigation Team), within the SCLCT/CTO, which will be made up of Nigerien investigators and European personnel experienced in conducting complex judicial investigations and in the use of forensic analysis tools.
The event was opened by the ambassadors of Spain and France, along with the European Union Delegation in Niger, and it included a general presentation of the team members. The main actions to be carried out were also detailed, along with the work plan for future activities.
The project is part of the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, within the priority aim of combatting and improving internal security, as well as the struggle against organised transnational crime.
