The Latest on the European Union-African Union summit
8:20 p.m.
Nigeria’s government says it has already begun repatriating hundreds of migrants who had been stranded in Libya, with the help of international migration authorities.
Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, left, Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe, center, and Gabon’s President Ali Bongo, third left, during a group photo at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
4:55 p.m.
The European Union, African Union and United Nations are setting up a special task force to help protect migrants, notably those detained in squalid conditions.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration.
Merkel has told a Europe-Africa summit that “it’s very important that we simply support Africans to put a stop to illegal migration, so people don’t have to either suffer in horrible camps in Libya or are even being traded.”
Merkel is attending the summit in Ivory Coast along with French President Emmanuel Macron and dozens of other European and African leaders.
Migration is a top issue after recent footage of migrants at a slave auction in Libya drew international condemnation. Another issue high on the agenda is security.
Merkel says that to improve living conditions for Africans “the question of education of children and teenagers, especially of girls,” is key.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, front right, speaks with Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, front center, and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterras, front left, during a group photo at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, second left, speaks with Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, left, during a group photo at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, front left, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, front right, step off the podium with other EU and African leaders after a group photo at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, second left, speaks with French President Emmanuel Macron, front right, and Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, center second left, during a group photo at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, center left, speaks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, center left, during a group photo at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, front left, shakes hands with Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, front right, during a group photo at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. Standing at center is French President Emmanuel Macron. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, rear center, stands on the podium with EU and African leaders during a group photo at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Guinea’s President Alpha Conde, front, walks by EU and African leaders during a group photo at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Guinea’s President Alpha Conde, front row left, speaks with Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara, front row middle, and African Union Commission chairman Moussa Faki, front row center, during a group photo at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, front left, shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron, front right, during a group photo at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Front row left to right, Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, French President Emmanuel Macron, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, and European Council President Donald Tusk during a group photo at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, front right, speaks with Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, front center, and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterras, front left, during a group photo at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
South African President Jacob Zuma, center, gives the thumbs up during a group photo at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, left, speaks with French President Emmanuel Macron as other Africa leaders pose for a group photograph during an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Diomande Ble Blonde)
French President Emmanuel Macron, center left, speaks with Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, front right, during a group photo at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
French President Emmanuel Macron, center left, speaks with Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, center right, during a group photo at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, center, steps off the podium with other EU and African leaders after a group photo at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, front right, speaks with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, front left, during a group photo at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Angola’s President Joao Lourenco, center, arrives for a round table event at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
French President Emmanuel Macron, center, attends a round table event at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, left, arrives for a round table event at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh, center, arrives for a round table event at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
French President Emmanuel Macron, left, attends a round table event at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
President of Gabon Ali Bongo Ondimba, center, arrives for a round table event at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
European Union and African leaders pose for a group photo at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, second left, arrives for a round table event at an EU Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday, during an EU-Africa summit, that the European Union wants to work more closely with Africa to address illegal migration. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
