Latest news with #Niger
Telegraph
30 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Thousands of migrants abandoned in the desert without food, water or shoes
Thousands of migrants including hundreds of unaccompanied children have been kicked out of Algeria and left in the desert without food, water or shoes, aid groups have said. Over 7,000 people including more than 700 children have been trucked over the border by the Algerian authorities since April in a dramatic escalation of the migrant crisis in the Sahara, according to data from the Agadez governorate in northern Niger. While Nigerien nationals among them are driven to a transit centre, those from countries across Sub-Saharan Africa are stripped of their belongings, including mobile phones, passports and shoes, and dumped in a remote area of the Niger desert known as Point Zero. From here, they have to make a 15km journey to the transit centre in Assamaka, a dusty border village, facing 40 degree heat and frequent sandstorms without food or water. Many migrants abandoned at Point Zero succumb to the extreme conditions before they ever reach help, said Azizou Chéhou, who helps run Alarmephone Sahara (APS), a group which monitors migration across the region. He said a 'humanitarian emergency' was unfolding along the treacherous migration routes that lead up from sub-Saharan Africa towards the Mediterranean. Survivors of the arduous desert trek report suffering beatings, dehumanising abuses and rape at the hands of Algerian border guards. Solène, a woman from Cameroon, told APS that Algerian border guards sexually assaulted her during an aggressive strip search. 'They say: 'You've hidden money up there',' she said. 'We've experienced so much wickedness.' Norbert, a Cameroonian man, was stopped by the Algerian border guards while trying to cross into Morocco with a group of migrants. He said he witnessed authorities rape dozens of the women, only sparing those who were visibly pregnant. 'The women who were with us were all raped. More than 30 women, all of them were raped. Those who escaped rape were the pregnant ones. [It was done] in front of our eyes,' he told APS. Fatima, 32, from Cameroon, said the border guards used dogs to taunt the men in her group and filmed it to post on TikTok. 'They were made to stand up, they were stripped naked, the dogs were biting their feet,' she told APS, adding that the guards boasted that it would 'bring them a lot of views'. Marou, 22, a Nigerien migrant expelled from Algeria, told Doctors of the World: 'I knew repatriation conditions could be tough, but I never imagined such extreme violence.' Under a 2014 agreement between Algeria and Niger, only Nigerien citizens are meant to be sent back across the border. Nigeriens rounded up by the Algerian border guards are sent in official 'convoys' to Assamaka, where they are formally handed to Nigerien authorities and transported to a UN-run transit centre in Agadez, northern Niger. But the testimonies collected by aid groups operating in the area reveal that large numbers of migrants from third countries are being kicked out in unofficial operations. Those that make it to the transit centre in Assamaka, which is little more than an outpost, receive food, water and basic medical care from the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM). Marshall Patsanza, an IOM spokesperson, said the lack of provision for primary healthcare makes it particularly difficult to treat patients with chronic illnesses or victims of gender-based violence. This has also led to outbreaks of diseases including measles, which has led to several deaths among young children, according to APS. After arriving at Assamaka, migrants, including pregnant women and children, are crammed into open cattle trucks and transported to Agadez around 450 kilometres away. 'The conditions are terrible,' said Zalika, a young woman interviewed by Doctors of the World, adding that one man died of dehydration during the journey. 'As soon as we pass through a town, we scream for the driver to stop so we can get water. But he never stops. Some faint, others succumb to their injuries […] it's horrible,' she said. 'The scale of need exceeds our resources' Doctors of the World said they typically receive 400 people at the Agadez site each month, but this surged by 2,600 in April. There is now no longer any space in the transfer centre, leaving the migrants stranded in the town. Unaccompanied children are either taken in by host families or left to fend for themselves on the streets of Agadez, a town rife with people smugglers. Doctors of the world also reported a rise in sexual violence against minors. Doctors of the World and local medical teams, who provide water points at the site for those turned away by the UN, have warned that many migrants arrive on the brink of death. 'Sometimes they are in a state where they cannot walk,' said Dr Toupou Lancinet, who heads the Niger team of Doctors of the World, adding they recently received around 1,000 migrants in a single weekend. Yet still the migrants continue to arrive. 'Every day, more children arrive – younger, more vulnerable – and the scale of the needs exceeds our resources,' Djanabou Mahondé, the Unicef representative in Niger, told The Telegraph. North African countries including Tunisia, Libya and Morocco have for years been aggressively pushing back migrants trying to reach Europe, leading to numerous accusations of human rights abuses. In 2024, more than 30,000 people were expelled from Algeria – including thousands abandoned at Point Zero. Dr Lancinet said there had been 'an unprecedented wave' of mass expulsions from Algeria in April and May. 'While these expulsions are frequent, this is the first time that so many migrants have been expelled from Algeria at once,' he told The Telegraph from his base in Agadez. The surge was reportedly triggered by a diplomatic row that broke out in March when a Malian military drone came down in the border area, which has become a stronghold for Tuareg separatists opposing Mali's ruling junta. Aid groups are now calling for greater support in tackling the neglected migrant crisis in the Sahara. 'Now is the time to step up,' said Mr Mahondé. 'Every child, whether in transit or in exile, deserves dignity, protection, and a future.'
Reuters
9 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Niger to nationalize Somair uranium venture operated by France's Orano
NIAMEY, June 19 (Reuters) - Niger's government on Thursday announced plans to nationalize the Somair uranium joint venture operated by French nuclear fuels company Orano, according to a statement read on national television in the West African nation. The statement cited a series of grievances including the expiration of the latest mining agreement in December 2023. "Faced with this irresponsible, illegal, and unfair behaviour by Orano, a company owned by the French state — a state openly hostile toward Niger since July 26, 2023 ... the government of Niger has decided, in full sovereignty, to nationalize Somair," the statement said. The decision is an escalation of a dispute between the government and the French company, following a deterioration of relations between France and Niger after a military coup in July 2023. Orano holds a 63% stake in Somair, while Niger's state-owned Sopamin owns the remainder, but the French operator has been shut out since the military-led government seized control of the uranium mine. Orano, which has been pursuing arbitration against Niger and has filed lawsuits in the country against the state's actions, has been warning of government interference at Somair, which it said was damaging the mine's financial situation. According to a Financial Times report in May, the company was also exploring the potential sale of its stake in the uranium venture.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Science
- CTV News
Early humans adapted to extreme habitats. Researchers say it set the stage for global migration
This combination of 2007, 2018 and 2012 photos shows, from left, the Cederberg mountain range in South Africa, the Tenere desert in Niger and savanna in South Africa. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam, Jerome Delay, Matthew Craft) WASHINGTON— Humans are the only animal that lives in virtually every possible environment, from rainforests to deserts to tundra. This adaptability is a skill that long predates the modern age. According to a new study published Wednesday in Nature, ancient Homo sapiens developed the flexibility to survive by finding food and other resources in a wide variety of difficult habitats before they dispersed from Africa about 50,000 years ago. 'Our superpower is that we are ecosystem generalists,' said Eleanor Scerri, an evolutionary archaeologist at the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology in Jena, Germany. Our species first evolved in Africa around 300,000 years ago. While prior fossil finds show some groups made early forays outside the continent, lasting human settlements in other parts of the world didn't happen until a series of migrations around 50,000 years ago. 'What was different about the circumstance of the migrations that succeeded — why were humans ready this time?' said study co-author Emily Hallett, an archaeologist at Loyola University Chicago. Earlier theories held that Stone Age humans might have made a single important technological advance or developed a new way of sharing information, but researchers haven't found evidence to back that up. This study took a different approach by looking at the trait of flexibility itself. The scientists assembled a database of archaeological sites showing human presence across Africa from 120,000 to 14,000 years ago. For each site, researchers modeled what the local climate would have been like during the time periods that ancient humans lived there. 'There was a really sharp change in the range of habitats that humans were using starting around 70,000 years ago,' Hallet said. 'We saw a really clear signal that humans were living in more challenging and more extreme environments.' While humans had long survived in savanna and forests, they shifted into everything from from dense rainforests to arid deserts in the period leading up to 50,000 years ago, developing what Hallet called an 'ecological flexibility that let them succeed.' While this leap in abilities is impressive, it's important not to assume that only Homo sapiens did it, said University of Bordeaux archaeologist William Banks, who was not involved in the research. Other groups of early human ancestors also left Africa and established long-term settlements elsewhere, including those that evolved into Europe's Neanderthals, he said. The new research helps explain why humans were ready to expand across the world way back when, he said, but it doesn't answer the lasting question of why only our species remains today. ___ Christina Larson, The Associated Press The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Niger targets jihadist financing, kills 13 in illegal gold mine raids
NIAMEY, June 16 (Reuters) - Niger's army has raided jihadist-controlled informal mining sites in the country's west, killing more than a dozen insurgents and seizing material linked to the manufacture of improvised explosive devices, it said. An army statement said the raids took place last week in the Tagueye locality, near Niger's western border with Burkina Faso. It said 13 insurgents were killed and one arrested. "Previously under the control of armed terrorist groups, these sites have been dismantled and systematically rendered inoperative," said the army statement released over the weekend. The raids "aimed at drying up the sources of financing for terrorist activities", it said. Like Sahel neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger is battling an insurgency by jihadist groups linked to Al Qaeda and Islamic State that have killed thousands and taken control of villages in its western border and the south. The military-ruled government expelled French forces, turning instead to Russia to help fight the insurgents. Ryan Cummings, director of the Africa-focused intelligence firm Signal Risk, said the raids may have temporarily disrupted illicit gold mining, but cutting off insurgents' financing required stronger efforts. "The minute state forces depart areas and mining sites with militant presence, the same actors can return to these deposits and restart operations," Cummings said. The insurgency in Niger has further battered the economy in Niger, where around 4.5 million people, or 17% of the population, required aid in 2024, according to the United Nations. In May, eight staff of privately-owned Nguvu Mining, which operates the Samira Hill gold mine southwest of the capital Niamey, were killed when the military-escorted bus they were travelling in ran over an IED, a company executive told Reuters.
Zawya
5 days ago
- Health
- Zawya
MBRGI implements AED 5.5mln worth of projects to address malnutrition across 3 African countries
UAE, Dubai – The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), through its 1 Billion Meals campaign, announced it has completed several key projects combating malnutrition in Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Senegal. This work, conducted in partnership with the UN's UNITLIFE Trust Fund, stems from a 2022 strategic agreement to support underprivileged communities globally by improving access to nutrition and promoting a dignified life. Through the 1 Billion Meals campaign, MBRGI contributed AED 5.5 million to UNITLIFE programs in Niger, DRC, and Senegal. This funding supported long-term food security strategies. The MBRGI-UNITLIFE partnership prioritizes sustainable approaches to combating malnutrition, including climate-smart agriculture, locally tailored solutions for market system development, and community empowerment through nutrition-focused initiatives. Such approaches help address the root causes of malnutrition while providing sustained support to hunger-stricken regions. MBRGI's support enabled UNITLIFE to implement projects in Niger, DRC, and Senegal, focusing on increased local food production, women's empowerment and economic engagement. These programs foster the development of a more inclusive and resilient food system. Sustainable solutions Prof. Philippe Douste-Blazy, former French Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Steering Committee of UNITLIFE, underscored the importance of sustainable, long-term solutions in addressing malnutrition: 'Our strategic partnership with MBRGI is crucial in expanding these solutions, empowering vulnerable communities not only to confront food security challenges but also to build resilience and effectively manage their nutritional needs.' Philippe Douste-Blazy expressed gratitude for MBRGI's support through the 1 Billion Meals campaign, which has been instrumental in enabling UNITLIFE to reach a broader population in Niger, DRC and Senegal, ultimately empowering them to improve their lives. Impact The strategic partnership between Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) and UNITLIFE has successfully completed a series of impactful projects to combat malnutrition and strengthen food resilience across several African countries. While the projects have concluded, they continue to enable communities to sustainably access nutritious meals year after year. In Niger, a 12-month project with Goal Global focused on promoting bio-fortified and climate-resilient agriculture. The initiative reached 168,826 beneficiaries and continues to enable access to over 1.4 million nutritious meals annually by supporting sustainable farming practices. In DRC, a 17-month initiative in partnership with UN Women established a biofortified cassava food chain. Designed to empower women and enhance community nutrition, the project benefited 128,558 individuals and continues to facilitate access to approximately 1.1 million nutritious meals annually. In Senegal, a two-year project with Action Against Hunger focused on promoting integrated food resilience. The initiative reached 33,223 beneficiaries and has strengthened local systems to enable access to an estimated 3.9 million nutritious meals annually. Fighting hunger In 2022, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the 1 Billion Meals campaign, which provided food aid to those in need across 50 countries, achieving its targets before the end of Ramadan of that year. MBRGI implements charitable and humanitarian programs across five key areas: Humanitarian Aid & Relief, Healthcare & Disease Control, Spreading Education & Knowledge, Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Empowering Communities. In 2024, MBRGI's spending across these key pillars amounted to over AED 2.2 billion, impacting nearly 149 million beneficiaries in 118 countries. Launched in 2019, UNITLIFE, a UN trust fund, combats chronic malnutrition globally through a multi-disciplinary approach. The fund explores innovative funding opportunities to address gaps in global health and food systems, including investing in scalable, sustainable agricultural projects and programs empowering women to address malnutrition within their communities.
