NIGER: Niger's city of Agadez is a transit point for thousands of African migrants who are fleeing the Libyan conflict. But local authorities fear that migrants are using the city as a hub for illegal activites

Record ID: 234704

  • Title: NIGER: Niger's city of Agadez is a transit point for thousands of African migrants who are fleeing the Libyan conflict. But local authorities fear that migrants are using the city as a hub for illegal activites
  • Date: 22nd August 2011
  • Summary: AGADEZ, NIGER (RECENT) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) GENERAL VIEWS OF AGADEZ CITY VARIOUS OF AFRICAN MIGRANTS SEATING NEXT TO THEIR BELONGINGS (SOUNDBITE) (Haussa) MAMANE NASSIROU ISSIF, MIGRANT SAYING: "Before, we used to go back home with a lot of things. But today, we are only returning with the clothes on our backs. Some people went in search of work or money, but they are now returning with just their clothes. That's not good. May God protect us from this back and forth." MORE OF MIGRANTS AND THEIR BELONGINGS
  • Embargoed: 6th September 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Niger, Niger
  • Country: Niger
  • Topics: Crime
  • Reuters ID: LVA9VAV20EY61H06ALD9N7GYIUDS
  • Story Text: Agadez city in the desert country of Niger, has long been a transit route for African migrants, heading north to Europe.
    But the city and its authorities are now struggling to cope with the influx of migrants fleeing the conflict in Libya, which hit its climax on Sunday (August 21), as Libyan rebels took parts of Tripoli from embattled Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi.
    There are now growing fears in the region that instability in the region and unsecured borders has led to an increase in illegal trafficking of arms, drugs and people.
    According to the Red Cross and the International for Migration (IOM), between 80,000 and 100,000 migrants have come through Agadez fleeing violence in Libya since February.
    Many of the migrants travel with nothing, having left all their belongings behind to make the expensive and gruelling journey by road across the desert to reach Niger -- arriving hungry and penniless.
    "Before, we used to go back home with a lot of things. But today, we are only returning with the clothes on our backs. Some people went in search of work or money, but they are now returning with just their clothes. That's not good. May God protect us from this back and forth," said migrant Mamane Nassirou Issif.
    Hundreds of thousands of sub-Saharan Africans have been working for years in Libya, mainly as low-paid laborers in the oil industry as well as agriculture, construction and as domestic servants. Their families depend on them to send much needed money back home.
    "There are some that didn't go to school. They have no skills. They are forced to go and find work, to help their parents," said another migrant, Omar Francis.
    IOM and the Red Cross transit centers for the migrants and their families are struggling to cater for the high numbers of people that are streaming though the city.
    Agadez, which is the largest city in northern Niger, with a population of around 88,000 is a bustling trading hub and a transport point for uranium, the country's major export.
    Local authorities fear the loss of employment for migrants is increasing poverty levels in the region.
    "There have been around 100,000 migrants who have come through Agadez, some who either live here and others who are in transit on their way to the south. The Libyan conflict has had enormous consequences on Niger and the region as a whole, because there is an important population that lives and works in Libya, and a part of the population depends on them, families depend on them in Niger. So the conflict has had enormous consequences," said Agadez mayor Rhissa Feltou.
    Jobless and desperate to make money, some migrants are lured into illegal activities such as drug, weapon and people trafficking across porous border, authorities fear.
    "There is a lot of trafficking in the Sahara region. There is weapon trafficking, cocaine trafficking, from Mauritania to Sudan, and it all passes through here. With all that is happening in Libya, we fear that all this trafficking will now take another dimension and becomes a bigger problem. I imagine that today, the Libyan government will not properly secure their borders with what is currently taking place there," said Mohamed Anako, president of Agadez regional council.
    Many migrants come through Agadez as a transit point to await onward evacuation to the nearest major city and their countries of origin.
    Hundreds get on to trucks daily, some heading back to Libya, where they hope to safely make their way to Europe through the Mediterranean sea undetected by Libyan authorities more occupied by the rebellion against Gaddafi in their own country.
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