EU sue for regional response to farmers-herders clashes in West Africa

Ketil Karlsen, head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and West Africa has called for an integrated regional response to the incessant farmers-herders clash going on in the sub region, particularly in Nigeria.

“We are currently engaging with ECOWAS on the farmers-herders clashes which require both a national and regional response. EU strongly condemns the killings and is urging authorities to rise up to the challenge posed by the conflicts to avert impunity; there is need for long-term solutions  through dialogue,” says Karlsen who was speaking at a pre-Europe Day 2018 press briefing in Abuja Wednesday.

Europe Day is celebrated every May 9 in commemoration of Robert Schuman’s 1950 declaration; as Nigeria approaches the 2019 elections, this year’s celebration by the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS is focused largely around elections and democratic governance.

Speaking about the EU’s support to Nigeria in 4 key areas of political, humanitarian, military and development cooperation, Karlsen restated the EU’s commitment to Nigeria’s economic development adding that the EU had since 1999 spent billions of euros in key areas such as elections and governance, water and sanitation, access to clean energy, jobs creation, as well as humanitarian aid and strengthening institutions in the war-torn north east region.

“The EU, in partnership with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has supported the return of over 7700 Nigerians from Libya; we are now giving them vocational skills training and startup funding, we believe investing in youth development and job creation will deter irregular migration,” adds Karlsen.