Cooperation between Italy and France in the strategic Sahel region of Africa continues to grow, foreign minister Luigi Di Maio and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian agreed during talks in Rome on Thursday.
"The two ministers discussed the main issues on the bilateral agenda, also confirming close coordination on Libya and the Sahel," said a foreign ministry statement.
Di Maio "stressed the importance of ensuring free and inclusive presidential and parliamentary elections in Libya on 24 December 2021 and reiterated the priority of the withdrawal of all foreign mercenaries and fighters from the country," the statement went on.
"On the Sahel, a region of strategic importance for Rome and Paris, the two ministers both strongly appreciated the growing collaboration between Italy and France," the statement continued.
Italy's participation in the Takuba Task Force, the coalition of European special forces to combat terrorism in the Saheli region, is an example of this growing cooperation, the statement said.
"The meeting also offered an opportunity to strengthen coordination on other international flashpoints, starting with the latest, worrying developments in the conflict in Ethiopia and its repercussions on the Horn of Africa region," said the statement.
The statement referred to the conflict between the Ethiopian government and rebellious forces from the Tigray region in the north who have been fighting for over a year. The warfare has killed thousands and displaced millions in Africa's second most populous nation.
France will take on the European Union Council's rotating presidency from 1 January to 30 June 2022.
Le Drian travelled to Rome with president Emmanuel Macron ahead of the signing on Friday of a wide-ranging bilateral friendship treaty between France and Italy.
Macron and Italy's premier Mario Draghi were set to sign the friendship pace at the Quirinale Palace before holding a joint press conference.
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