Tripoli, 15 February 2103:
Prime Minister Ali Zeidan arrived in the Chadian capital of N’Djamena this evening, Friday, to take part in . . .[restrict]tomorrow’s extraordinary summit of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD).
The meeting is the first for CEN-SAD since the Libyan revolution and is dominated by concerns for stability in the region. In particular participants want to ensure no spread of illegal weapons across the Sahel and that in the wake of the French-led operation to crush militant Islamists in Mali the latter are not able to establish themselves elsewhere.
Comprising 28 African states, CEN-SAD was founded in Tripoli in 1998, primarily with the aim of promoting stronger economic and political ties between members. Over the years, its significance has diminished but present concerns about the threat from the militants has given it a new lease of life. Tomorrow’s meeting is expected to see moves to revitalise the organisation.
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