Abidjan, Aug 13, 2020 – Thirty-three people in Niger have died and more than 80,000 have been affected by floods caused by heavy rains, the country’s emergency services said on Thursday. The worst-hit regions are Maradi in south-central Niger, Tahoua and Tillaberi in the west, and Dosso in the southwest. Rice, clothing, mats, blankets and soap are being distributed to victims, emergency officials said. The Niger River and other waterways have burst their banks, and further storms are expected in the coming days in the poor West African state, the weather service said.
While the Sahel Faces Worsening Security Climate, Juntas Leverage Regional Integration to Consolidate Power
Sahelian juntas push regional integration, abolishing roaming charges and unifying ID documents, but these efforts bolster their control. Amid human rights abuses and worsening jihadist crises, reliance on Russia and regional tensions leave citizens in peril.