The widely despised law that made it illegal to transport migrants through Niger has been repealed by the military administration, as reported by the BBC. The 2015 legislation, aimed at curbing the high volume of West Africans migrating to Europe, was officially abolished on November 25. This move was announced on state television by the Niger administration, which assumed power through a coup in July. Moreover, the new decree specifies that convictions made under the 2015 law will be expunged.
The decision to repeal the law, which had significantly reduced the number of migrants passing through Niger, is seen as a strategic attempt by the government to gain support from the communities in the northern desert, which heavily relied on migration-related businesses. Additionally, this move signals a re-evaluation of the nation’s relationships with previous Western partners who condemned the coup.
Following the implementation of the 2015 law, the influx of migrants through Niger declined, affecting the towns and villages that provided essential support to migrants and facilitated the trafficking activities. As a consequence, the European Union initiated the Trust Fund for Africa in 2015, with a targeted fund of 5 billion euros ($5.5 billion) to address the root causes of migration. However, this initiative was deemed inadequate by many. Notably, in locations such as the historic city of Agadez, a prominent entry point to the Sahara, unemployment surged, resulting in the seizure of numerous vehicles used for migrant transportation and the incarceration of dozens of individuals involved in illegal migration networks.
Nevertheless, the repeal of the law has led migrants to seek riskier desert routes that lack landmarks or water sources, posing increased danger in the event of emergencies. While some in Agadez, considered Europe’s border guard and Africa’s hub of smuggling, welcome this recent development, there are concerns that human traffickers may exploit the law’s repeal to coerce migrants into neighboring countries like Libya or Algeria for onward transportation to Europe.
