By John Ikani
Niger’s junta announced on Monday the revocation of an anti-migration law that had curtailed the movement of West Africans to Europe, a measure criticized by residents of the desert regions whose economies were traditionally intertwined with this migration.
In May 2015, amidst a surge in Africans crossing the Mediterranean, a law criminalizing the transportation of migrants through Niger was enacted. This move aimed to address the political and humanitarian challenges in Europe, pressuring governments to control the influx.
Having assumed power through a coup in July, Niger’s junta repealed the law on Saturday, making the announcement via state television on Monday evening. The junta is now reevaluating ties with former Western allies critical of the coup, seeking domestic support, particularly from northern desert communities that relied heavily on migration.
Over the years, the law significantly reduced migrant flows through Niger, a key transit country on the southern Sahara’s edge. However, this change adversely affected towns and villages that once thrived on providing for and hosting migrants, as well as supplying car parts and fuel to traffickers.
In response, the European Union initiated the nearly $5.5 billion Trust Fund for Africa in 2015 to address migration’s root causes, but the impact was deemed insufficient. Unemployment soared, particularly in places like Agadez, an ancient city serving as a prominent Sahara gateway.
The implications of this news on European leaders’ reactions and migration patterns are uncertain. While some view the decision positively, such as former migrant transporter Andre Chani, who plans to resume his business, the broader consequences remain to be seen.
“I’m going to start again,” expressed Chani from Agadez via text on Monday. “We are very happy.”
