Niger in the hands of terrorists

Aya Ezz

Niger has been suffering a surge in violence and terrorist attacks. In the last few days, terrorist groups launched five attacks on US military bases and some villages.

No security

The United Nations declared Niger an insecure state as a result.

Attacks by terrorist groups have so far caused the displacement of a larger number of people in different areas of Niger, especially with the ongoing rise of terrorist attacks by Boko Haram in neighboring Nigeria.

Nigerian citizens are flocking to Niger for fear of attacks by the terrorist group. But these waves of Nigerian migrants cause security risks in Niger.

Niger had received more than 100,000 refugees from Nigeria until early 2019, the UN said.

Niger hosts a total of 300,000 Nigerian refuges already, it added.

It said deteriorating security conditions on the joint border between the two states had led to escape of 20,000 Nigerians to Maradi, the second largest city in Niger.

An additional 70,000 Nigerians have also escaped to villages in western Niger, near the joint border with Mali. The escaped from violence and bloodshed back in their country, according to the UN.

International terrorism

A state of emergency has been imposed in Tilaberi, near Niger’s border with Burkina Faso and Mali, since 2017.

This region was infiltrated several times by terrorist groups.

Around 55 terrorist attacks have taken place in Niger, according to the World Data site which documents information about terrorism and terrorist attacks.

The 55 attacks, the site said, included six suicide attacks that were launched in the past five years, the site said.

It added that all these attacks claimed the lives of 768 people and left 210 people injured.

Terrorist groups also kidnapped civilians, the site said.

According to statistics about the concentration of terrorist operations in private residential communities, 36 of the attacks had left about 700 people dead.

Police and army centers followed the residential communities as targets for the attacks. They were followed by civil work organizations, commercial outlets, governmental institutions and then religious facilities.

Diffa area near the border with Nigeria was home to 41 terrorist attacks. These attacks claimed the lives of 700 people in the city. Diffa was followed by Tilaberi where eight attacks took place.

Most of the attacks were carried out by Boko Haram and al-Qaeda.

Political analyst Mohamed Mahmoud said terrorist group, such as ISIS have succeeded in gaining presence in Africa, especially in Niger, for several reasons.

He said one of the reasons is that Niger has a US base and a French one.

“So we find that they are launching many terrorist and suicide operations against them,” Mahmoud said.

Why Niger

He said Niger is one of the richest countries in Africa in natural, mineral and resources.

“This has always made it a coveted ally of foreign forces and a target of all terrorist organizations,” Mahmoud said.

He said the existence of terrorist organizations in Niger is a struggle for preference.

He added that Niger is like any African country that is poor and politically weak.

“So it is always a destination for extremist groups,” Mahmoud said. “It is a safe haven.”