Agadez resumes role as migration hub

In the heart of northern Niger, Agadez is once again abuzz with activity as it serves as a pivotal transit point for migrants embarking on a challenging journey across the Sahara.

Since the military coup in July, Niger’s leaders swiftly repealed a 2015 law criminalizing migrant trafficking, aiming to facilitate easier access to North Africa and eventually Europe.

The repeal, which also sought to rejuvenate the economy in a region plagued by illicit activities, has sparked a resurgence in migration through Agadez.

As the historic town regains its status as the gateway to the desert, pickup trucks loaded with individuals, their faces shielded from the sun and sand, depart from the main bus station headed for Libya. Hawkers seize the opportunity to make last-minute sales of protective turbans, cigarettes, and water sachets to the migrants.

While the November repeal was met with applause from some quarters, a lingering distrust persists among drivers, with many opting for clandestine routes, avoiding formalities at the bus station.

This skepticism stems from a history of under-the-radar people trafficking that has thrived in the region for nearly a decade.

Aboubacar Halilou, involved in transportation, acknowledges the cramped conditions migrants endure but emphasizes the necessity of the service, saying, “But it’s our job, people need to go.”

Despite the hope that the repeal would lead to better regulation of the sector, NGOs remain concerned about the risks migrants face on their journey. Some continue to use unregistered, beaten-up trucks, departing in clandestine convoys at night to evade authorities.

The 2015 law, originally adopted to stem migrant flows towards conflict-ridden Libya, made Niger a strategic partner of the European Union. However, EU cooperation was suspended following the July coup. The new regime argued that the law had been influenced by foreign powers, leading to its repeal.

Agadez Mayor Abdourahamane Touaroua notes the town’s pivotal role in regulating migratory flows, stating, “Niger was a kind of valve for the migratory flows. So, we had to reopen the valve.” Since the law’s repeal, migrant departures from Agadez have reportedly tripled, indicating a resurgence in migration activity.

While couriers suggest that business is gradually picking up, concerns about the safety and regulation of the sector persist, with clandestine routes and lingering distrust among drivers casting a shadow over the town’s renewed role in migration.