Maghreb Edition

Sahel: Insecurity forces Niger to halt voter registration in troubled regionsF

Posted On 21 January 2020

Number of times this article was read : 253

Niamey, Jan 21, 2020 – Niger’s election commission said Tuesday it had suspended a voter registration drive in a western border region buffeted by jihadist insurgents.  The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) said because of security circumstances in the Tillaberi region, registration operations have been suspended in the districts of Abala, Tondikiwindi, Makalondi, Torodi, Gouroual, Diagourou, Inates and Banibangou. Voter registration was also suspended in Tillia, a district in the neighbouring region of Tahoua, it said on its website.

Registration “will resume as soon as circumstances allow,” it said, adding that its agents would be withdrawn from these zones for the time being. Western Niger is bearing the brunt of a jihadist revolt that has swept in
from neighbouring Mali and spread to Burkina Faso. Three attacks in Tillaberi in December and January, claimed by the Islamic State group, killed 174 soldiers, according to an official toll. More than 7,000 people have fled their homes, according to the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The first round of presidential elections, coinciding also with a legislative ballot, is scheduled for December 27 this year. These will be preceded by municipal and regional elections, on November 1. According to UN figures, jihadist attacks in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger left around 4,000 dead last year.

By AFP

Subscribe to Urgent Notifications and Newsletter

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Gulf War Escalates as Energy Markets Reel and Regional Fronts Multiply✓

The war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States is expanding across the Middle East, with growing consequences for global energy markets and regional security. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure have pushed oil prices higher and raised concerns about supply stability. As missile exchanges intensify and fighting spreads to Lebanon, world leaders are scrambling to assess the economic fallout and prevent further escalation.

West Africa: Jihadist Attacks Intensify in Northern Benin Amid Cross-Border Insurgency Pressure✓

Jihadist attacks in northern Benin have intensified in recent weeks, with militants linked to JNIM claiming a deadly assault on a military position near the Niger border and carrying out additional raids on security posts along the country’s volatile frontiers with Burkina Faso and Nigeria. The violence underscores how northern Benin has become part of a wider cross-border insurgency spilling south from the central Sahel, even as authorities bolster Operation Mirador and try to prevent armed groups from entrenching themselves on Beninese soil.

Desert Locusts Stir Fresh Worries in North-West Africa✓

Small desert locust swarms recently detected along the western Sahara corridor have prompted stepped-up monitoring across parts of North and West Africa, where shifting rainfall can quickly turn quiet desert areas into launchpads for wider infestations.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.