Tensions in Sahel: Niger in the eye of the storm -Thomas More Institut
Antonin Tisseron, Research Fellow at the Thomas More Institut considers the situation faced by Niger in the light of events in its neighbour Mali.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Tensions-in-Sah...
Whilst Antonin Tisseron feels it may be premature to see Niger facing similar challenges to Mali Antonin Tisseron notes that men and arms circulate as well as ideas.Tourism a vital element in the economy and its decline has affected both northern Mali and Niger.
He notes that in Niger several thousand Tuareg fighters of the last rebellion (2007-2009) have not yet laid down their arms.The flow of refugies from Mali to Niger numbered in the tens of thousands added to the 260,000 Nigeriens who were working in Libya and returned home to avoid the conflict in Libya and yet some 20,000 more who fled the conflict in Cote D'Ivoire.
These pose significant strains on the Nigerian economy.The President of Niger, Issoufou Mahamadou has esposed reforms especially in the filed of agriculture and water but they are not keeping pace with the pressures of the regional situation.
He notes that the nearly 25,000 men of the Nigerian army are benefitting from an international assistance plan . In mid April the former colonial power France announced in mid April the provision of ex French army issue gazelle helicopters equipped with cannon and security cooperation amounting to a million euros in 2011 and military aid of some 3.2 million euros.
This reflects the fact that France is the main customer for Niger's uranium with the main uranium mining company being the French Aviva corporation along with a Chinese company. France change of President will probably not affect the defence of its national interests or its engagement with Africa. That however is unlikely to mean French direct military intervention post the Libya conflict.
The EU has focused on the process of judicial reform and strengthening thepolicy as well as supporting a weak local adminstration. This is unlikely to stop Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.Antonin Tisseron notes that it is estimate the the Nigerian armed forces only managed to stop a quarter of the weapons leaving Libya for Mali. The question is how many weapons are still being transferred via Libya into the Sahel.
The Nigerian government strategy adopted in October 2011 for six of the eight regions of the country identifies five focus areas: the safety of goods and people, creating economic opportunities for people, improving access to basic services, strengthening local governance and integration of refugees and other displaced persons. The government has made serious efforts to counteract its drought problems and its effects on agriculture.
However international aid organisations have stressed the serious malnutrion problems which afflict much of its population especially the children. The core of the poulation which depends on agriculture for its livelihood is still fragile and easily distabilised.Although Antoinin Tisseron does not mention it , Niger also borders oil rich Nigeria which has a major insureection problem with the AGMI linked Boko Haram: not all the danger comes from
Mali.
The Niger government has continued to keep the confidence of its people in its administratiuon of the country particularly in th northern region of Agdez. It has a better integrated Tuareg population unlike in Mali.
President Issoufou Mahamadou of Niger has just returned from a trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where he saw King Abdullah Ben Abdul Aziz, Al Saud and his senior advisers as well as key businessmen.The visit of the Head of State in Saudi Arabia has registered tangible results including the signing between the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and Niger of three agreements, two grant agreements, amounting respectively to 200 million CFA and FCFA 50 million.
The first agreement is part of emergency relief food while the second agreement is for Malian refugees living in the territory of Niger.
The third agreement is a funding agreement which the IDB has approved, through its trade promotion subsiduary, the International Islamic Finance Corporation (ITFC), a loan of 10 billion CFA francs to help replenish the safety of food stocks by the purchase of grain and agricultural inputs, which will enable Niger to consider, with great serenity, the rainy season ahead.
He notes that in Niger several thousand Tuareg fighters of the last rebellion (2007-2009) have not yet laid down their arms.The flow of refugies from Mali to Niger numbered in the tens of thousands added to the 260,000 Nigeriens who were working in Libya and returned home to avoid the conflict in Libya and yet some 20,000 more who fled the conflict in Cote D'Ivoire.
These pose significant strains on the Nigerian economy.The President of Niger, Issoufou Mahamadou has esposed reforms especially in the filed of agriculture and water but they are not keeping pace with the pressures of the regional situation.
He notes that the nearly 25,000 men of the Nigerian army are benefitting from an international assistance plan . In mid April the former colonial power France announced in mid April the provision of ex French army issue gazelle helicopters equipped with cannon and security cooperation amounting to a million euros in 2011 and military aid of some 3.2 million euros.
This reflects the fact that France is the main customer for Niger's uranium with the main uranium mining company being the French Aviva corporation along with a Chinese company. France change of President will probably not affect the defence of its national interests or its engagement with Africa. That however is unlikely to mean French direct military intervention post the Libya conflict.
The EU has focused on the process of judicial reform and strengthening thepolicy as well as supporting a weak local adminstration. This is unlikely to stop Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.Antonin Tisseron notes that it is estimate the the Nigerian armed forces only managed to stop a quarter of the weapons leaving Libya for Mali. The question is how many weapons are still being transferred via Libya into the Sahel.
The Nigerian government strategy adopted in October 2011 for six of the eight regions of the country identifies five focus areas: the safety of goods and people, creating economic opportunities for people, improving access to basic services, strengthening local governance and integration of refugees and other displaced persons. The government has made serious efforts to counteract its drought problems and its effects on agriculture.
However international aid organisations have stressed the serious malnutrion problems which afflict much of its population especially the children. The core of the poulation which depends on agriculture for its livelihood is still fragile and easily distabilised.Although Antoinin Tisseron does not mention it , Niger also borders oil rich Nigeria which has a major insureection problem with the AGMI linked Boko Haram: not all the danger comes from
Mali.
The Niger government has continued to keep the confidence of its people in its administratiuon of the country particularly in th northern region of Agdez. It has a better integrated Tuareg population unlike in Mali.
President Issoufou Mahamadou of Niger has just returned from a trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where he saw King Abdullah Ben Abdul Aziz, Al Saud and his senior advisers as well as key businessmen.The visit of the Head of State in Saudi Arabia has registered tangible results including the signing between the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and Niger of three agreements, two grant agreements, amounting respectively to 200 million CFA and FCFA 50 million.
The first agreement is part of emergency relief food while the second agreement is for Malian refugees living in the territory of Niger.
The third agreement is a funding agreement which the IDB has approved, through its trade promotion subsiduary, the International Islamic Finance Corporation (ITFC), a loan of 10 billion CFA francs to help replenish the safety of food stocks by the purchase of grain and agricultural inputs, which will enable Niger to consider, with great serenity, the rainy season ahead.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Tensions-in-Sah...