German Chancellor Angela Merkel departs for Senegal on Wednesday on a first leg of a three-day trip to Africa for talks on containing illegal migration.

Merkel is scheduled to meet with Senegalese President Macky Sall in Dakar late Wednesday (1730 GMY) followed by meetings with the leaders of civil society groups.

Merkel’s delegation includes experts on electrification, digitalization, infrastructure and energy management.

Her trip will also include stops in Ghana and Nigeria on Thursday and Friday.

The chancellor said in advance of her departure that her trip will include talks on creating job opportunities in the three countries in order to prevent them from attempting to migrate to Europe.

A large percentage of African migrants trying to cross to Europe through the Mediterranean are Nigerians.

While some make it to Europe, mainly Italy, as refugees, several others drown in the Mediterranean.

Thousands are, however, stranded in Libya from where they normally cross the sea to Europe.

The Nigerian government working with the International Organisation for Migration has so far repatriated over 1, 213 Nigerians from Libya stranded in Libya.