The military government of Niger declared on Monday that it has removed a legislation against migration that forbade the movement of people from the West African nation to Europe. The detrimental effects of the law served as the driving force behind the decision, it stated.
As the nation’s new leaders, who seized power in a coup in July, examine its relationships with its erstwhile Western friends, the action has been taken.
In 2015, during Europe’s migrant crisis, Niger—which is thought to be a major transit point for migrants from Western Africa travelling via the Central Mediterranean route—became an important ally of the European Union once the law was passed.
The same year saw the establishment of the European Union Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), which has a €5 billion ($5.5 billion) endowment, with the goal of addressing the underlying causes of irregular migration from North and Sahel to the EU.
The EUTF reports that Niger’s financial support in 2022 was approximately €85 million, intended, among other things, to help the government strengthen its migration institutions.
Although the regulation was praised for lowering the number of migrants entering the EU through Niger, it was also criticised for negatively impacting the cross-border economy in the area, especially in the Agadez region.
The Nigerien military government asserted in a statement on Monday that the law was passed despite its “harmful” effects and under the “influence of certain foreign powers.”
General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the leader of the coup, said, “[The decision] was taken in flagrant contradiction with our community rules and did not take into account the interests of Niger and its citizens.”
A framework for penalising Niger’s military rulers in an effort to pressure them to reinstate constitutional order and return power to deposed President Mohammed Bazoum was just agreed by the EU Council. The sanctions include a travel ban on members of the newly installed government, freezing assets, and forbidding the transfer of monies to persons and companies.
A record number of migrants is posing a challenge to the member states of the union, particularly Spain and Italy. In response to the coup, Brussels already stopped aid and security cooperation with Niger.
