NIGER: Branded mercenaries by Libya's new rulers, thousands of locals who found work in Gaddafi's army are returning to the Nigerien town of Agadez, increasing the strain on an already struggling economy

Record ID: 234862

  • Title: NIGER: Branded mercenaries by Libya's new rulers, thousands of locals who found work in Gaddafi's army are returning to the Nigerien town of Agadez, increasing the strain on an already struggling economy
  • Date: 14th September 2011
  • Summary: MORE OF STREET SCENE PARENTS OF LALLA MOUSTAPHA, GIRL WHO LIVES IN LIBYA VARIOUS OF FAMILY TALKING, BABY WOAMN BREAST FEEDING
  • Embargoed: 29th September 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Niger, Niger
  • Country: Niger
  • Topics: Conflict
  • Reuters ID: LVABN6GB71BSP5UL1HHNF93CADDO
  • Story Text: Already awash with bandits, rebel-minded nomads and a growing number of al Qaeda-linked gunmen, Niger's desert north is now the main escape route south from the war in Libya -- and could yet emerge as Muammar Gaddafi's bolt-hole.
    The Nigerien government said on Sunday (September 11) that Saadi, Gaddafi's son more known for his soccer passion than his politics, is already en route the dusty desert town of Agadez, around 1,000 km from the capital Niamey.
    Saadi's convoy is the third containing important members of Gaddafi's entourage to arrive in Niger in the past seven days.
    Others include Gaddafi's security chief and at least two top generals, all of whom are now in the capital.
    He passes through a desert world teeming with paradoxes, as chronic insecurity contrasts with the legendary hospitality of blue-turbaned Tuareg nomads while a tenacious cross-Saharan trade in cars pulls a lucky few out of poverty.
    Blighted over the decades by local uprisings against the government of the day in the southern city of Niamey, the north and its regional hub Agadez have sought to reveal its breath-taking scenery to hardy travellers whenever security allows.
    In the good days, visitors could take bracing utility-vehicle trips through the desert and brush up against Tuareg encampments who would occasionally welcome them in to drink the bitter-sweet local tea under star-studded night skies.
    There were high hopes of a renaissance of tourism when the last rebellion ended two years ago, but since then a new threat -- kidnappings of Westerners by groups tied to local al Qaeda operatives -- has scared all but the bravest few away.
    This month marks the anniversary of the kidnapping of seven foreigners employed by French mining firms Areva and Vinci in the uranium-mining town of Arlit, one of spate of hostage attacks across the Sahel. Four of the victims are believed to remain in captivity somewhere in neighbouring Mali.
    The dilapidated state of the banknotes in circulation in Agadez, a city of some 80,000 inhabitants, bears testimony to the listless state of a local economy on the slide.
    The conflict in Libya only exacerbated the difficulties locals are facing. Many say things have gotten worse.
    "We don't export the camels as before to Algeria and Libya because of the fall of the Algerian currency and the war in Libya. There are other countries that come to look for camels, like Nigeria, but that's not worth it for us, it's like with Algeria, their money don't have value. If you buy something for 100.000 FCFA (200 USD) you can only just about get your money back if you sold it," said 62 year old Moussa Ahmed, a father of five, who's been a camel trader all his life.
    Even the town's auto-traders, once able to make a decent living from imports of cars from Libya destined for sub-Saharan Africa, say they are suffering from an illegal trade in vehicles smuggled in from Libya without payment of taxes or other duties.
    A few months ago prayers were organised throughout the country for a good rainy season, in the hope to avoid the famine that affected the region over the last few years.
    "We were worried about the pastures, but with God's help the cattle are already in a good state. We have more confidence this year," said Lawali Mouhamed, another cattle trader.
    Now local authorities' biggest fear is a return to northern Niger of thousands of locals who found work as regulars in Gaddafi's army -- and who since the change of leadership are branded mercenaries and run the daily risk of reprisals.
    But for families like this, who're waiting for news of their loved ones, it's a different story. Goni Almoustapha is still waiting for his niece to come back from the village where she lived in Libya.
    Her father was too overwhelmed to talk on camera, but said the last the family had heard, Lalla ran away from the village in Southern Libya without even stopping to pick up some shoes, after the village came under heavy fire. He doesn't even know if she's still alive.
    "Our daughter Lalla, if she could hear me, if she's ok, all we want is that she comes back home and stays with us here at home," her uncle Goni Almoustapha said.
    He echoes the thoughts of thousands of Nigeriens whose relatives in Libya lack the money needed to come back home, or are unable to being cut off by the conflict.
    At least 80,000 African migrants employed in Gaddafi's Libya have flooded back through northern Nigeria since the start of the conflict, putting even greater strain on local resources.
    Only in July, regional governor Garba Maikido celebrated the latest disarmaments of former Tuareg rebels and was declaring a zero-tolerance policy against local gunmen, linked to al Qaeda or otherwise.
    If Gaddafi were to consider flight, northern Niger would unlikely be anything more than a brief transit point in the search for permanent exile. One possible candidate is Burkina Faso next door, although it has played down such an outcome.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Footage contains identifiable children: users must ensure that they comply with local laws and regulations governing the publishing of this material.
Register