Source : Sahel weather December 2024 

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Terrorist attacks continue to claim huge numbers of victims in Niger. Between December 12 and 14, “39 villagers were killed in a double jihadist attack, according to the military”, in the western part of the country, in Libiri and Kokorou. This deplorable attack took place a week after another offensive by jihadist groups in the Téra region, where 21 civilians lost their lives. Also in Téra, more precisely in Chatoumane, “90 to 100 deaths” were reported among the ranks of the army, according to a Western security source. However, this latest information was denied by the authorities, who cited a disinformation campaign. This led to the suspension of the BBC for three months and a complaint against RFI, which had been off the air in Niger for several months. The military's management of the country continues to be strongly marked by this series of restrictions and ruptures in partnerships with Western powers, notably France.

Moreover, the withdrawal of the SSA states from ECOWAS has become, in a way, definitive, if not more assumed by its leaders, who support the irreversibility of this decision. Nevertheless, on December 14 2024, in Bamako, the SSA states confirmed that their borders would remain open to ECOWAS nationals, through the signing of “this symbolic act” in Bamako by Assimi Goita, President of the Confederation, following the meeting of foreign affairs ministers in Niamey on December 13. At this latest meeting, two key decisions were taken : the irreversibility of ECOWAS's withdrawal from the SSA states, and the imminent introduction of unified travel and identity documents. Thus, in order to preserve their sovereignty, the three member countries “retain the right to refuse entry to their territory to individuals deemed inadmissible under their current regulations”.

Moreover, with the aim of better ensuring security in Niger, on December 25, General Tiani spoke at length about the efforts made to strengthen the defense and security forces on Niger Radio and Television. According to him, “ 25,000 recruits and 150 billion CFA francs have been invested ” in one year, by the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland, which has left no branch of the FDS untouched, in order to further guarantee the security and protection of people and their property. However, during his interview, General Tiani did not fail to criticize his former Western partners, whom he accuses of economic and military sabotage.