The European Union has created a new mission to train security forces in Niger to fight terrorism and organized crime.

The EU says the mission will start in Niger but could extend to Mali and Mauritania — all countries that are part of a large desert region in sub-Saharan Africa known as the Sahel.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Monday that insecurity has dramatically increased in the Sahel because of growing terrorist activity as well as last year's revolt in Libya. During that uprising, large quantities of weapons are believed to have been smuggled into Niger and other Sahel countries.

The European Union says its training mission will include 80 staff and will be based in Niger's capital, Niamey.