MIGRATION.

The European Union (EU) has launched an international alliance to combat migrant smuggling, as migration routes to Europe through the Sahara and Mediterranean worsen. The Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling was announced at a conference attended by 57 countries, with the aim of closing loopholes in legislation and systems to prevent the criminal trade in human lives. Libyan authorities are preparing to deport 248 undocumented migrants to Niger and Chad, in coordination with the UN's International Organisation for Migration (IOM). The head of Niger's military regime has repealed a law criminalizing migrant trafficking through the country, stating that it did not take into account the interests of Niger and its citizens. Tunisia has seen a significant increase in intercepted migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Italy, with accusations of expelling migrants to Libya and Algeria. The Ghadamès-Al-Dabdab border crossing post between Libya and Algeria is set to reopen after eight years of closure. Turkey and Algeria have signed a deal to extend Turkey's liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports for three years. Somalia has become the eighth member of the East African Community (EAC), and Ethiopia is in talks with Djibouti customs authorities to resolve delays in loading commodities at the Djibouti port. Gambia and the European Union have signed a financing agreement for a humanitarian project targeting internally displaced persons and migrants in Mali. Kenya and India have signed five memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to facilitate skills and technology transfer in various sectors. [Extracted from the article]