Fifty migrants, among whom were 20 women and 12 children, en route to the Maghreb, were rescued by a patrol of the Niger defense and security forces. The migrants were left stranded, abandoned in the desert 50 km from the Puits Espoir (Well of Hope) military post. All the migrants were safely taken to a secure location, where medical examinations were conducted, according to the weekly report from the Information and Coordination Operations Center (CICO).

According to the CICO report, the operation was carried out by a patrol from the forward post near Puits Espoir, Zone 8, in the Agadez region. The rescue operation was initiated on Friday, March 14, around 1:40 PM, after a vehicle transporting migrants broke down about 50 kilometers from the post on the Djado route. The swift response of the operation enabled the rescue of fifty people, including “20 women, 18 men, and 12 children, all of whom were found in distress,” according to the CICO bulletin.

The CICO report adds that the prompt intervention by the military helped save these vulnerable individuals, who were later evacuated to the Puits Espoir post. There, they received emergency medical care and thorough medical examinations. The Defense and Security Forces (FDS) were commended for their vigilance and professionalism, in ensuring the safety of all those involved, the bulletin noted.

The area in question is a well known corridor used by migrants on their way to Europe via the Maghreb. However, this route is also fraught with danger due to the harsh climatic conditions, which frequently result in fatalities.

Recent events have also highlighted the challenges faced by people on the move in search of greener pastures, often at the risk of their own lives. This rescue operation not only underscores the dangerous nature of these migration routes, but also highlights the importance of sustainable strategies that would ensure the safety of migrants while addressing the socio-economic and political challenges, the very driving forces of these population movements.

It is important to note that this is the first time migrants have been found stranded in Niger since the military authorities took over in July 2023. This reality contrasts with the new measures regarding migration to the Maghreb. In November 2023, the new authorities had repealed law 2015-36, which criminalised migration-related activities The military, under the authority of the governor of the Agadez region, organises weekly convoys from the city of Agadez to ensure the safe transport of migrants to the Algerian and Libyan borders.