After almost a year from its planning it seems that the green light, for an Italian military mission in Niger, has finally arrived.
The media have spoken little of it, but since December of last year the brigadier general Antonio Maggi, with the 40 military and lodged at a US base, is present in the sub-Saharan State to prepare for the arrival of the contingent. It seems probable that the times have lengthened, not so much because of a rethinking of Paris, but rather of reasons inherent to the dislocation of the Italian force and the precise role that it will have to assume in Niger.
Officially the Italian contingent will have to train the local security forces, so that they can be a valid deterrent against the traffickers but above all against the Islamic terrorists. It is known that the border between Niger and Libya is the preferential channel through which criminal gangs transport migrants to the North African coast, feeding a men's market that is only reflected in the age of the slave trade. Moreover, in the region, Islamic fundamentalism is spreading rapidly, thanks also to the terrorist group boko haram, which has its base of operations in neighboring Nigeria.
As previously announced by Defense sources, the Italian contingent should amount to just under 500 soldiers, with 150 means. I would say an oversized figure for a training-only mission. So it would be possible (if not desirable) that our soldiers would also perform offensive operations against criminal gangs and terrorists.
At the moment the composition of the contingent has not been revealed however, without prejudice to the fundamental set-ups of the genius and transmissions, the ideal would be to deploy a light infantry task force, like the aircraft of the 66 ° rgt TRIESTE and the paratroopers of the FOLGORE brigade (obviously a core of special forces could not be missing, on 9 ° COL MOSCHIN and with elements of 185 ° RRAO), able to intervene with great speed along the border thanks to the use of NH-90 and AH-129D helicopters.
Furthermore, we are once again talking about the deployment of Italian troops in Libya - whose plans are continually updated by the Defense Staff - in order to protect the oil rigs. The decision, of course, depends on the new executive as long as you do not waste any more time.
(photo: US Africa Command)
