Hungarian FM: Hungary, Chad agree on broad cooperation to boost regional stability

Hungary is launching a comprehensive cooperation scheme with Chad with a view to boosting the security and stability of the Sahel, developing the economy and managing the root causes of migration, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Budapest on Thursday.

The world has entered “an era of dangers”, with many of the crises linked to terrorism, which is connected to mass illegal migration waves, Szijjártó told a joint press conference held with counterpart Mahamat Saleh Annadif, according to a ministry statement.

Terrorism and migration, he added, formed a “vicious circle”, arguing that the former was a root cause of the latter, and migration waves could be infiltrated by potential terrorists.

“That’s why one of the constant grave threats faced by the European Union is that mass illegal migration waves will become even more severe,” Szijjártó said.

He said terrorism posed an even greater threat in Africa, while the continent’s rapid population growth posed serious economic challenges. He noted that Africa’s population was projected to grow by 750 million over the next 20 years.

“This means that the main question from a European point of view is whether we Europeans can give Africa the help it needs to successfully confront the increasingly serious terrorist threat, and whether African countries are able to develop their economies to such an extent that they can keep this rapidly growing population on the continent,” the minister said.

Szijjártó said the Sahel was among Africa’s most troubled regions, and a source of the migration waves to Europe.

“And we must also see that if Brussels doesn’t change its pro-migration policy, it will mean big trouble for both the Sahel and Europe,” he added.

He hailed Chad’s “exceptional stability”, noting that the Sahel country was prepared to intensify cooperation with the EU and was making major efforts against terrorism.