AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT 2016/17

NIGER
Republic of Niger
Head of state: Mahamadou Issoufou
Head of government: Brigi Rafini
Armed conflict continued, particularly in
the southeastern region of Diffa where most
attacks were carried out by the armed group
Boko Haram. Over 300,000 people needed
humanitarian aid as a result of the conflict
and the continuing state of emergency in
the Diffa region. Over 1,400 suspected
Boko Haram members were in prison, most
held in lengthy pre-trial detention in poor
conditions and at risk of torture. The rights
of refugees and migrants travelling through
Niger were violated.
BACKGROUND
President Issoufou was re-elected in March
after an election that was boycotted by the
main opposition parties. His principal
opponent, Hama Amadou, was in detention
during the election charged with complicity in
kidnapping; he was released shortly after the
election.
Niger was examined under the UN
Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process
and accepted almost all of the
recommendations, including those relating to
abolition of the death penalty, protection of
human rights defenders, measures to
eradicate traditional harmful practices such
as early and forced marriage and female
genital mutilation, and guaranteeing the right
to food. Niger rejected one recommendation
on ensuring participation of Indigenous
Peoples in decision-making.
ABUSES BY ARMED GROUPS
Civilians, including refugees from Nigeria,
continued to be affected by armed conflict,
most of it concentrated in the Diffa region.
The exact number of civilian casualties could
not be determined; the UN estimated that at
least 177 civilians had been killed since
February 2015. Boko Haram carried out
more than 50 attacks in the Diffa region in
2016.
Other armed groups were active in western
areas bordering Mali. In October, an
unidentified group attacked the refugee
camp of Tazalit, Tahoua region; and a US aid
worker was abducted in Abalak, Tahoua
region. On 17 October, a group calling itself
Islamic State attacked the high-security
detention centre in Koutoukalé, near Niamey,
Tillabériregion.
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE
More than 300,000 displaced people needed
humanitarian assistance in the Diffa region
by the end of the year, according to the UN
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA). This included more than
184,000 internally displaced people from
Niger, 29,000 returning Niger nationals and
88,000 Nigerian refugees. Many lived in
harsh conditions in makeshift camps.
Insecurity impeded access to basic
commodities and services, including food,
water and education, and the continuing
state of emergency hampered economic
activity.
REFUGEES’ AND MIGRANTS’ RIGHTS
Niger hosted more than 60,000 refugees
from Mali in the Tillabériand Tahoua regions,
who also needed assistance.
The number of people transiting through
Niger trying to reach Europe continued to
grow, with Agadez the principal transit hub
for West Africans. In October, a survey by the
International Organization for Migration
reported that 70% of people arriving in Italy
by boat – many of whom had travelled
through Niger – had been a victim of
trafficking or exploitation, including
thousands of women and girls forced into
prostitution in Libya or Europe. Despite an
anti-trafficking law passed in 2015, there was
limited action to prevent trafficking in Niger.
An undetermined number of people died
during dangerous journeys through the
desert in Niger. In June, 14 adults and 20
children were found dead in the desert after
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