Source : Sahel weather

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In June 2024, Niger faced several attacks. On June 16, a rebel movement called Front Patriotique de Libération (FLP), motivated by the liberation of former president Mohamed Bazoum, attacked the Agadem oil pipeline, causing the death of six Nigerien soldiers. This attack had serious economic consequences, given the capacity of the pipeline to transport oil from Agadem (north-east Niger) to the port of Sèmè-Kpodji in Benin. Another politico-military group, the Front Populaire pour la Justice (FPJ), motivated by the same reasons, made its mark by kidnapping the prefect of Bilma (north-east of Agadez).

In the same vein, the Tillabéri region in the "three borders" zone was not spared. Twenty soldiers were killed in a terrorist attack on the night of June 21-22. Thanks to a military raid, an influential member of the Islamic State named Mohamed Souleymane "Idouwal" and nine terrorists were neutralized, not to mention the arrest of some thirty individuals on June 20 in the same area. 

Lastly, the least deadly attack was in Diffa, where four people were killed, including three civil servants and a soldier. The attack was carried out by terrorists from Nigeria. The Diffa region often faces attacks from Boko Haram. In response, the authorities have banned the circulation of 4x4 vehicles between the towns of Maïné Sorao and Diffa in order to prevent such attacks. 

Meanwhile, former president Mohamed Bazoum is still in the news, as the courts have ordered the lifting of his immunity. The former Nigerien head of state is accused of "treason", "alleged apology for terrorism" and "financing terrorism". Since the latest coup d'état, the deposed President has been held in the presidential residence, fearing that his immunity will be lifted, paving the way for a possible trial.

In addition to political dealings, the RJDH (Réseau des Journalistes pour les Droits de l'Homme - Journalists' Network for Human Rights) is angry about the toughening of the law by General Tiani, head of the military regime. This law represses the dissemination of digital data in Niger, while exposing journalists to prison sentences and higher fines. This raises the question of whether the new version of this law will not jeopardize press freedom and increase self-censorship among journalists. The NGO Reporters Without Borders shares this fear of seeing a decline in press freedom in Niger.

The Nigerien government, ever eager to assert its sovereignty over its mining resources, is withdrawing the mining permit for the Imouraren mine from the French multinational ORANO. This decision comes on top of those taken previously, and confirms Niger's determination to gradually separate itself from its traditional partner, France.

Issues with strong economic repercussions continue to make the news, as can be seen from the blocking of the transport of Nigerien oil to the port of Sémé and the arrest of five Nigerien agents of the Chinese company WAPCO, effectively bogging down the already difficult relations between Niger and Benin. The Nigerien authorities hold President Talon solely responsible, and recall the three agreements on which oil transport is based.