Cooperation between Italy and Sahel countries: three training courses in Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad are taking place, organized within the framework of the training and assistance project funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Sant'Anna School, thanks to the decisive support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), is currently organising three training courses for magistrates from Niger (“Techniques for combating international terrorism”, Niamey 9-12 May 2022), Burkina Faso and Chad (“Project management cycle”, in Chad from 2-5 May and Burkina Faso from 9-12 May 2022). The three courses, coordinated by Andrea de Guttry, Full Professor of International Law at the Sant’Anna School, complete the training programme that kicked off with the first course on “Combating Cybercrime and Protection of Personal Data”, which was held on March 2022 in a hybrid format, with one day as a face-to-face event in Niamey, Niger and three days held online.
The opening ceremonies of the three courses were attended by the three Italian Ambassadors to Niger, Emilia Gatto, to Burkina Faso, Andrea Romussi, to Chad, Filippo Scammacca del Murgo, who had the opportunity to greet the participants and appreciate their interest in the topics covered, and their gratitude for these important opportunities for learning and dialogue.
The course in Niger on techniques to counter international terrorism will include, among others, the participation as a lecturer of former Italian prosecutor Alberto Perduca, who will present the Italian experience of the “Anni di Piombo”, and discuss the tools available to magistrates to investigate crimes linked to international terrorism with M. Mamadou Koundy, director of the anti-terrorism pool in Niger. This is an important area of cooperation between Italy and Niger and the strengthening of technical expertise for the management of investigations related to national and international terrorism is considered by both States as a key element of stability in the region.
The courses in Chad and Burkina on the project management cycle aim at strengthening the competences of local magistrates concerning the elaboration, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of projects that are financed by the European Union and other international donors in the justice sector. In this case, the objective is to improve the capacity of local actors (and especially the Ministries of Justice of the two countries) to properly manage the increasing number of international cooperation projects in favour of the local judiciary sector.
The organisation of the training courses is part of the project “Strengthening the judicial systems of the G5 Sahel countries through training” (2021-2022), financed by MAECI and coordinated by Andrea de Guttry, Full Professor of International Law at the Dirpolis Institute (Law, Politics, Development) of the Sant'Anna School.
The Sahel is a priority area for Italian cooperation and this project intends to enhance the skills and competences of magistrates in these countries, by strengthening their knowledge of the national, regional and international legal framework on counter-terrorism and organised crime, cybercrime and personal data protection, as well as of the project management cycle. In addition to these training courses, computer equipment (laptops and printers) and bibliographic material (approximately 100 volumes of civil, administrative, criminal and commercial law) have recently been sent to support the daily needs of the local judiciary in Niger.
“The Sahel is a key area in the geopolitical balances between Europe and Africa” comments the course director, Professor Andrea de Guttry, who emphasises that “the project funded by MAECI and coordinated by the Sant'Anna School is helping to strengthen the rule of law in this area, which is so crucial for the stability of the African continent and Europe”.
Cover photo: the closing ceremony of the training course in Chad.
