Agadez, a remote city in the West African nation of Niger, has resumed its role as a major hub for migrants heading towards Europe, after years of being officially closed under a deal with the European Union. The move has sparked mixed reactions from local authorities, humanitarian agencies, and the migrants themselves.
The bus station in Agadez is buzzing again. Every week, thousands of migrants from West and Central Africa board a caravan of pickup trucks, traveling for days across the Sahara towards North Africa, where many will then attempt to cross the Mediterranean in a quest to reach Europe.
For years, this portal was closed, at least officially. In 2016, Niger’s government outlawed migration out of Agadez, and in exchange, the European Union poured hundreds of millions of dollars into Niger’s coffers and the local economy. The aim was to curb irregular migration and combat human smuggling and trafficking networks.
However, the ban also had negative consequences for the people of Agadez, who relied on migration as a source of income and livelihood. Many lost their jobs as drivers, guides, or hosts for the migrants. Some turned to alternative activities, such as gold mining, but others joined armed groups or criminal networks.
The recent lifting of the ban has been welcomed by many in Agadez, who hope to revive their businesses and benefit from the renewed flow of migrants. But it has also raised concerns about the security and humanitarian situation in the region, which is already facing multiple challenges, such as poverty, climate change, and instability.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 23,000 migrants passed through Agadez in 2023, a significant increase from the previous years. Most of them came from Nigeria, Mali, Guinea, and Senegal, and were heading to Libya or Algeria. Some were fleeing violence, persecution, or human rights violations in their countries of origin, while others were seeking better opportunities and living conditions in Europe.
But the journey is fraught with risks and hardships. Many migrants face abuse, exploitation, and detention along the way. Some are deported back to Niger by the Algerian authorities, often without any identity documents or belongings. Others are stranded in Libya, where they are exposed to violence, torture, and slavery.
Niger has been praised by the international community for its generosity and solidarity towards migrants and refugees. The country hosts more than 450,000 displaced people, including Nigeriens who have fled internal conflicts, as well as refugees and asylum seekers from neighboring countries, such as Nigeria, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
Niger is also a key partner for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), which operates a transit mechanism in the capital, Niamey, to evacuate vulnerable refugees from Libya and resettle them in third countries. Since 2017, more than 6,000 refugees have been evacuated from Libya to Niger, and more than 4,000 have been resettled.
In Agadez, UNHCR opened a new office in 2017, scaling up its operational capacity to provide protection and assistance to those in need of international protection within mixed migratory flows. As of January 2024, more than 1,000 people, mainly Sudanese nationals, have been identified and registered by UNHCR in Agadez. Some of them have been granted refugee status, while others are awaiting the outcome of their asylum claims.
UNHCR works with the government and other partners to find durable solutions for refugees, such as voluntary repatriation, local integration, or resettlement. It also supports the strengthening of the national asylum system and the promotion of migrants’ rights.
But the challenges remain immense. The resources and capacities of the local authorities and humanitarian actors are stretched thin, while the needs and vulnerabilities of the migrants and refugees are growing. The COVID-19 pandemic has also added to the difficulties, affecting the health and socio-economic situation of the population.
The reopening of Agadez as a migration hub poses new questions and dilemmas for Niger and its partners. How do they balance the interests and aspirations of the local communities with the rights and protection of the migrants and refugees? How do they address the root causes and drivers of migration, such as poverty, inequality, and insecurity? How do they foster regional and international cooperation and solidarity to ensure safe, orderly, and humane migration?
These are some of the issues that will be discussed at the upcoming Africa-EU Summit, scheduled for February 2024 in Brussels. The summit will be an opportunity to review the partnership between the two continents, and to define a new agenda for the future, based on mutual respect, trust, and shared responsibility.
For the migrants and refugees in Agadez, the summit may not change much. They will continue to pursue their dreams and hopes, despite the obstacles and dangers. But they also hope that their voices and stories will be heard and that they will be treated with dignity and compassion.
Source: The New York Times
