The smuggling of irregular migrants in Niger, West Africa, should remain unpunished in the future. The leader of the military junta repealed the corresponding law, which was also intended to curb migration to Europe.
The military government in Niger has repealed a law that reduced the number of migrants from West Africa bound for Europe.
The army announced the move on Saturday on state television in the evening. The 2015 law banned the transport of migrants through Niger.
Law passed under pressure from the EU
The law was part of Europe’s strategy to curb migration across the Mediterranean. Niger is one of the most important transit countries for African migrants who want to travel towards Europe. The European Union has been working with Niger since 2015, primarily to block the migration route from the Nigerien desert town of Agadez to Libya.
The law, which made smuggling migrants from Agadez through the Sahel to the border with Libya punishable by up to 10 years in prison, was passed in 2015 under pressure from the EU. In return, the EU provided around 75 million euros for projects to curb migration. According to the International Organization for Migration, the number of irregular migrants in Niger has fallen since the law was introduced.
A statement from Europe on the repeal of the law was initially not available in the evening.
Military junta seeks allies at home
The law was unpopular with Niger’s desert dwellers, who made their living by caring for and housing the migrants. Unemployment rose in places like Agadez, a gateway to the Sahara.
Agadez representatives welcomed the cancellation decree. The law has had a negative economic impact on the region, which was known as a smuggling stronghold, said Mohamed Anacko, president of the Agadez regional council.
The military seized power in Niger in July. After previous Western allies condemned the coup, the junta is seeking domestic support. These include the desert communities in the north that benefited most from migration. Among other things, they sold fuel to smugglers.
“Horror scenario for Europe”
The repeal of the law could have serious consequences for migration across the Mediterranean, said the regional office manager of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation for the Sahel, Ulf Laessing: “Now the horror scenario is occurring for Europe.”
Niger has been ruled by the military since a coup on July 26th. The country was considered the last democratic partner of Europe and the USA in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region. Since the coup, relations between Niger and Western countries have largely been on hold.