This
is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office
at the U.S. Embassy in Niamey. OSAC encourages travelers to use
this report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Niger. For
more in-depth information, review OSAC’s Niger country page for
original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of
which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC
password.
Travel Advisory
The current U.S. Department of State Travel
Advisory at the date of this report’s publication
assesses Niger at Level 3, indicating travelers should reconsider travel
to Niger due to crime, terrorism, and kidnapping. Avoid travel to Niger’s
border regions, particularly the Malian border area, Diffa region, and the Lake
Chad region due to terrorism. Review OSAC’s report, Understanding
the Consular Travel Advisory System.
Overall Crime and
Safety Situation
Crime Threats
The
U.S. Department of State has assessed Niamey as being a HIGH-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official
U.S. government interests. Crime occurs at all hours in Niger. Non-violent
crimes (e.g. pickpocketing, purse snatching, backpack/cell phone theft) are
present in major cities, notably in/around places where Westerners gather.
Within Niamey, avoid the Night Market; criminals loiter in the area, which is
notorious for pickpocketing, purse snatching, mugging, and assaults. Other
markets, the area around the Gaweye and Grand Hotels, the National Museum, and
Kennedy Bridge are also high-risk areas. Review OSAC’s reports, All
That You Should Leave Behind.
Violent
crimes (e.g. muggings, assaults) are not as common as non-violent crimes, and
typically occur after dark. Assailants may be aggressive and display a weapon
during a robbery; knives are the most frequently employed weapon, as some
Nigeriens carry knives or machetes as part of their normal dress.
Vehicle
thefts are prevalent in Niamey. Most carjackings reported to police occur along
Niger’s southern border which has seen a rise in criminality especially in the
Maradi and Zinder regions.
There
has been an overall decrease in residential robbery in Niamey. Home invasions
and residential robberies occur primarily after dark and can be violent. In
2019, there have been incidents in which assailants attacked residential guards
or occupants. Although thieves typically choose to rob homes without visible
residential security measures, these measures have not stopped robbers in some
cases, including those targeting diplomat and NGO residences. In addition,
there have been numerous reports of commercial and NGO office robberies. Review
OSAC’s reports, Hotels:
The Inns and Outs and Considerations
for Hotel Security.
Review
OSAC’s reports, The
Overseas Traveler’s Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud and Taking
Credit.
Cybersecurity Issues
Due
to the lack of cyber infrastructure and the relatively low rate of internet penetration,
the prevalence of cybercrime is thought to be low. However, information on
cybercrime trends in Niger may be lacking due to the limited abilities of
Niger’s security forces and law enforcement officials to track, investigate,
and prevent cybercrime. Review OSAC’s reports, Cybersecurity
Basics, Best
Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling
with Mobile Devices: Trends & Best Practices, and Satellite
Phones: Critical or Contraband?
Transportation-Safety
Situation
Road Safety and Road Conditions
Road
conditions in major cities are hazardous. While there are some paved roads in
Niamey, most residential streets are dirt or sand. Niamey’s roundabouts are
often sources of congestion; different traffic circles have different rules of
priority, which contribute to the high incidence of traffic accidents. Drivers
can be aggressive and often disregard the rules of the road.
Motorcycles
inundate the roads in Niamey. Motorcycle accidents occur frequently; many
result in fatalities. The substantial number of motorcycles, bicycles, vendor
carts, broken-down vehicles, beggars, and pedestrians on the streets makes
driving a challenge. In addition, livestock (e.g. camels, cattle, goats) wander
in the streets.
Traffic
police are present at large intersections, and conduct law enforcement checks
at numerous points. Police are generally professional, but some traffic
officers attempt to extort money from drivers. Respect all tollbooths (péages)
at city limits on major roads. At a péage, the driver will receive a
receipt of toll payment; maintain your receipt for the return trip on the same
road. Despite the overt presence of traffic police, there are frequent vehicle
accidents and road hazards that pose a risk for motorist safety.
Do
not use headlights during the day; except in emergencies, only police and
military vehicles may do so. Do not use horns after dark. Pull over for
official motorcades or military convoys with headlights on, public emergency
vehicles with sirens on, and funeral processions.
Accidents
involving minor damage generally only require an exchange of insurance
information. However, accidents involving more serious damage or injuries, or
where there is any dispute over insurance or who is at fault, will require
police involvement. In any accident where the police are involved, do not move vehicles
before the police arrive.
Transit
routes linking Niamey to neighboring countries are focal points for smuggling
and other criminal activities, including carjacking and armed banditry. Daytime
highway robberies have occurred, but are much less frequent than nighttime
criminality. There have been incidents of carjacking on the main east-west road
(Highway N1) along the Nigerian border. Most incidents of banditry involve the
use of firearms; assailants are not afraid to use violence when victims show
resistance. Most attacks occur at dusk, after dark, or in the very early
morning hours.
Foreigners
traveling beyond Niamey’s city limits must carry their car registration and
personal identification documents. Carry first-aid supplies, a local cellular
or satellite phone, water, and a monitored personal tracking locator (if
possible) in all vehicles.
Travel
outside Niamey and other cities often requires four-wheel-drive vehicles. The
U.S. Government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S.
citizens in remote and rural areas, as U.S. government employees must obtain
special authorization to travel outside Niamey due to security concerns.
Outside of Niamey, all U.S. Embassy personnel may travel only during daylight
hours in a minimum two-vehicle convoy accompanied by armed Nigerien government
security escorts.
Nigerien
authorities do reserve the right to restrict travel based on the security
situation along any intended route. The security climate in Niger can change
quickly, and Nigerien authorities may decide to take additional security measures.
Following
the murder of a French tourist in Agadez in 2005, the Nigerien government began
requiring NGOs to register and inform the government of each trip they plan to
take. To avoid detention and/or expulsion by authorities, NGO workers should abide
by the following standard operating procedures:
Make sure that your NGO has
received official recognition from the government. Visit the Managing Office of
Decentralized Cooperation and Non-Governmental Organizations (Direction de
la Coopération Décentralisée et des Organisations Non Governementales) in
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (Ministère des Affaires
Étrangères et de la Coopération).
If your international NGO sponsor
is without a permanent presence in Niger, verify that your NGO has informed the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation at least two weeks prior to the
start of a mission. This notice should be in writing and should include the
purpose of the mission, the dates of the mission, where the mission will take place,
and the types and license plate numbers of the vehicles involved. Copy the
Interior Ministry on this notice.
If your NGO is headquartered in
Niger, verify that your group has informed the Ministry of Planning, Land
Management, and Community Development (Ministère du Plan, de l’Aménagement
du Territoire et du Développement Communautaire) at least two weeks prior
to the start of a mission. This notice must be in writing and include the
purpose of the mission, the names of the individuals who will be working for
the NGO on the mission, the dates of the mission, where the mission will take
place, and the types and license plate numbers of the vehicles involved. Copy
the Interior Ministry on this notice. Ask for a receipt of any notification
provided to a Ministry.
Carry a copy of the official
recognition (Arrêté) of the right of your NGO to operate in Niger.
Prior
to beginning a mission in Niger, NGO workers should present themselves at the
regional governor’s office. NGO workers should ask for a receipt of the
documents they present to the governor (or highest-ranking official available).
Provide the governor with the same written notification you provided to the
required ministries.
Review
OSAC’s reports, Road
Safety Abroad, Driving
Overseas: Best Practices, and Evasive
Driving Techniques; and read the State Department’s webpage on driving
and road safety abroad.
Public Transportation Conditions
Avoid
taxis. U.S. Embassy personnel may not use taxis, which pose multiple hazards.
Taxi drivers are notorious for driving erratically, and may stop quickly to
pick up additional passengers. The government does not regulate or vet taxis.
Vehicles lack proper maintenance, do not meet Western safety standards, and are
prone to breakdown.
Inter-city
“bush-taxis” are available at negotiable fares, but these vehicles are
generally older, unsafe models that are overloaded, poorly maintained, and
driven by reckless operators seeking to save time and money.
A
national bus company (SNTV) operates coaches on inter-city routes, provides
reliable service, and has experienced no major accidents. Air Transport, Rimbo,
and Garba Messagé are private bus companies operating in Niger. Concerns exist
regarding the youth of drivers and the speed with which the private buses
travel.
Hitchhiking
is not a recommended form of transportation. Nigerien security forces have
taken foreign individuals attempting to hitchhike through rural areas into
protective custody.
Review
OSAC’s report, Security
In Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights.
Aviation/Airport Conditions
The
National Police and Gendarmerie are responsible for security at Niger’s Diori
Hamani International Airport (NIM), using X-rays and metal detectors. Foreign travelers
must have a valid Nigerien visa.
Terrorism Threat
The
U.S. Department of State has assessed Niamey as being a HIGH-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting
official U.S. government interests. Terrorist groups continue plotting
kidnappings and possible attacks in Niger. Terrorists may attack with little/no
warning, targeting foreign and local government facilities and areas Westerners
frequent. Externally-based extremist groups have crossed the border and carried
out multiple lethal attacks on Nigerien security forces.
Niger
has experienced terrorism, mainly in the form of kidnapping-for-ransom (KFR)
and clashes between security forces and extremist militants. The country faces
threats from Mali-based terrorist groups, which include regional affiliates of
al-Qa’ida and ISIS, as well as Nigeria-based terrorist groups, such as Boko
Haram and ISIS West Africa (ISIS-WA). These groups include Nigerien members.
Mali-based terrorist groups in particular have increasingly targeted local,
regional, and international security forces in Mali and neighboring countries.
Since 2015, al-Qa’ida affiliates based in Mali have conducted or been
implicated in attacks in major Sahel cities against locations foreigners
frequent, including soft and hard targets.
In
2020, four rockets targeted Niamey. The rockets failed to reach the city or
explode on impact. Rocket launches of this type have been seen in Niger in
previous years, but are usually directed at military and security targets. Mali-based
terrorist groups have shown a propensity for retaliating against countries that
participate in regional counterterrorism efforts and/or support U.S. and French
military presence in the region. Niger hosts military units from several
Western nations engaged training and capacity-building operations. In addition,
Niger participates in the G5 Sahel Force, a newly-formed France-supported
counterterrorism force composed of troops from five regional governments. The
G5 Sahel force launched its first operation in 2017, focusing on the tri-border
area of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
Terrorist
groups have carried out a number of notable recent attacks in Niger,
including:
- Numerous
attacks on government, military and civilian targets throughout 2019 in Niger’s
western regions of Tillabéri and Tahoua;
- October
2019 arson attacks at several schools in the western Tillabéri region;
- A
June 2019 at a church in the Maradi region, near the Nigerian border;
- The
May 2019 attack on a Nigerien Army unit near Tongo Tongo, in which 29 soldiers died;
- A
May 2019 attack on the Koutoukalé high-security prison involving a large
vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. The attack failed to free militants
housed in the prison, but illustrated the sophistication and organization of
terrorist groups operating within and outside of the country;
- Multiple
attacks in Diffa, to include suicide bombings in June 2018 and April 2019;
- The
December 2018 an Italian Priest from the village of Kogel Beli, near the
Burkina Faso border; and
- The
April 2018 kidnapping of a German aid worker in near the Malian border.
The
Government of Niger has regularly renewed the State of Emergency declaration
first made in 2015 in the Diffa region, and in 2017, extended the State of
Emergency to seven provinces in the Tillabéri and Tahoua regions due to attacks
emanating from Mali. This State of Emergency is still active today in those
regions. A government statement noted it would enforce a state of emergency in
the districts of Ouallam, Ayorou, Bankilare, Abala and Banibangou in Tillabéri,
and in Tassara and Tillia districts of Tahoua. The decision followed a spate of
deadly attacks that killed 16 soldiers in Ouallam and an attack that killed
five gendarmes in Wanzarbe, Bankilare district back in 2017. The State of
Emergency grants security forces special powers, including the right to search
homes.
Two
Nigerian-based terrorist groups, Boko Haram and ISIS-WA, continue to menace
Niger’s southwestern Diffa region, resulting in some of the deadliest attacks
on Niger’s soil. Boko Haram is from northern Nigeria, where the ethnic makeup
of the population – mostly Hausa and Kanuri – is essentially identical to that
on the Nigerien side of the border. Boko Haram has attacked government forces
and targeted/killed civilians in Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Nigeria. Boko Haram
has kidnapped and killed foreigners, publicly threatens to continue to do so,
and has often highlighted Christian organizations as a target. Niger, whose
population is majority Hausa, has experienced open conflict with Boko Haram in
the south (specifically the Diffa region), where authorities have arrested and
killed Boko Haram members. Since 2015, Boko Haram has expanded its presence in
Niger and conducted several attacks in the Diffa region, including improvised
explosive devices and suicide bombings. Diffa hosts over 300,000 displaced
persons, including Nigerian refugees and internally displaced Nigeriens.
The
Government of Niger began to discuss demilitarization, demobilization, and
reintegration (DDR) programming in 2016, and continues to work on a viable
reintegration plan for former Boko Haram combatants, as defectors have begun to
turn themselves in to authorities in Diffa.
Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment
There
is little anti-U.S. sentiment among the general population. Due to a French
colonial history, anti-France sentiment sometimes comes to the surface. In
2013, residents of the Goudel neighborhood (approximately 1 km from the
Embassy) assaulted and briefly took two French citizens hostage. This incident
occurred after Goudel residents had warned that foreigners were not welcome in
the neighborhood in the context of protests against road barriers emplaced by
the government in response to heightened terrorist threats.
Political, Economic,
Religious, and Ethnic Violence
The
U.S. Department of State has assessed Niamey as being a HIGH-threat location for political violence directed at or
affecting official U.S. government interests. Niger most recently experienced a
military coup in 2010, which removed President Tandja from power. In 2011, a
democratically elected government took control, prompting the U.S. to restore
full bilateral cooperation. In 2016, voters re-elected President Issoufou to a
second five-year term. The next presidential election should occur in December
2020. President Issoufou has said he will step down as president, as he has
reached his term limit according to Nigerien law.
Civil Unrest
Niger
experiences periodic violent demonstrations. Large and small street
demonstrations occur regularly, often near government buildings, university
campuses, or other gathering places (such as public parks) or blocking the main
bridge over the Niger River. Demonstrations have involved rock throwing, tire
burning, and setting cars on fire, especially at key intersections in Niamey.
There have been occasional reports of rock-throwing demonstrators targeting NGO
and diplomatic vehicles, but none in recent years. Student marches frequently
protest various education-related issues. Trade and service unions and other
associations often protest for better wages and working conditions. Review
OSAC’s report, Surviving
a Protest.
Religious/Ethnic Violence
Relations
between Christians and Muslims are predominantly peaceful in Niger. However,
episodic violent protests have occurred in Maradi, during the summer of 2019,
in which demonstrators set fire to a church, burned tires, and erected
roadblocks. In response to such religious violence – which remains an unusual
occurrence in Niger – government officials have resolved the unrest and
multiple religious leaders made statements and implemented initiatives to
restore interfaith solidarity.
Post-specific
Concerns
Environmental Hazards
Extreme
heat is a serious environmental hazard. Temperatures can surpass 115 degrees
Fahrenheit during the hot season (March through June).
During
the rainy season (July through September), flash flooding can occur without
warning. During the 2019 rainy season, flash flooding claimed more than 40
lives and destroyed buildings and roads throughout the country.
Personal Identity Concerns
Local
culture and Islamic tradition encourage conservative dress for both men and
women. There have been incidents of groups of men assaulting women who appear
to be African and who are wearing clothing other than traditional garments.
Female
Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Niger is punished by a fine and a jail sentence.
Between 1998 and 2006 the practice of FGM on girls aged 15 to 49 decreased by
50% (5% to 2.2%), although ethnic and regional disparities remain, with a
pocket of the most intense FGM practice persisting in far western Niger. Forced
marriage or marriage without the consent of one or both parties still occurs in
Niger; victims are often 15-18 year old girls. Women have limited access to
education and employment (less than 15% of women can read.) Review the State
Department’s webpage on security for female
travelers.
There
is strong societal stigma against same-sex sexual activity in Niger, but no
laws criminalizing consensual same-sex sexual activity in general. The law
states, however, that an “unnatural act” with a person of the same sex who is
under 21 is punishable by six months to three years in prison and a fine of
between 9,000 and 90,000 CFA francs. Review the State Department’s webpage on
security for LGBTI+
travelers.
Nigerien
law mandates that the state provide for persons with physical and mental
disabilities, but there are no specific regulations mandating accessibility to
buildings, transportation, and communication for those with special needs.
There is extremely limited accessibility to public transportation, road
crossings, taxis, restaurants, cafes, bars, and other tourist spots. Review the
State Department’s webpage on security for travelers
with disabilities.
Review
OSAC’s report, Freedom
to Practice, and the State Department’s webpage on security for faith-based
travelers.
Drug-related Crime
Smuggling
of narcotics and other items from Mali through Niger to Libya and from Nigeria
is prevalent.
Kidnapping Threat
Kidnapping-for-ransom
operations occur in Niger. The threat to Westerners remains high. In May 2019, French
commandos close to the Nigerien border in Burkina Faso rescued a U.S. citizen who
had been kidnapped several weeks prior. There is a persistent threat of
kidnapping of Westerners in Diffa and Tillabéri regions; some NGOs have scaled
back operations and are reviewing travel/movement of Western personnel more
carefully in this area.
Although
the U.S. government places the highest priority on the safe recovery of
kidnapped U.S. citizens, it is U.S. policy not to make concessions to
kidnappers. Consequently, the type of assistance that the U.S. Government can
provide to kidnap victims is limited, as is Nigerien capacity to support a
rescue operation. Review OSAC’s report, Kidnapping:
The Basics.
Other Issues
Niger’s
location between West and North Africa, vast open deserts, and lengthy porous
borders make it a transit point for terrorists, criminals, migrants, weapons,
contraband, and illegal drugs. Loosely organized criminal elements operate in
Niger. The country has long been a transit route for smugglers. In northern
Niger, within the Sahara Desert, the seminomadic, pastoral Tuareg ethnic group
has long facilitated cross-border licit and illicit trade, including the
smuggling of contraband (e.g. weapons, illegal drugs, fuel, vehicles, humans,
cigarettes). Along the border with Nigeria, criminal elements smuggle
everything from fuel to rice to automobiles. Smuggling often occurs via
caravans of trucks through the desert. The 2011 war in Libya prompted a rise in
smuggling activity in Niger, and there have been clashes between smugglers and
security forces. Smuggling activities have increased since 2016, as the Government
of Niger has cracked down on migrant transportation, which used to play a key
role in the economy of central and northern Niger. The criminalization of
migrant transport has driven the business underground, encouraging more violent
practitioners willing and able to take greater risks and feeding the traffic of
drugs and weapons.
Niger
is confronting a number of major security threats, including increasing
criminal and terrorist activity in the Tillabéri and Tahoua regions, which
border Mali and Burkina Faso; spillover terrorist activity in the Diffa region
from Nigeria due to Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa (ISIS-WA);
threats from ISIS elements from Libya; and growing regional instability in the
Sahel. In addition, the Agadez region is a major corridor for the illicit
trafficking of goods, weapons, and people between Europe, North Africa, and
West Africa; criminal elements, armed groups, and terrorists operate in this
area.
Tourists
are free to take pictures anywhere in Niger, except near military
installations, radio and television stations, the Presidential Palace,
airports, or diplomatic facilities. Do not photograph military or police
personnel, or political or student demonstrations. Seek prior permission before
taking a close-up “portrait” photo of an individual. Review OSAC’s report, Picture
This: Dos and Don’ts for Photography.
Due
to poor line quality, callers often experience delays in getting a telephone
line, and faxes are often unclear. Service quality is generally better with cellular
service, which is available from multiple providers in urban areas. Connections
between cell phones and land lines are often poor quality and may fail to
connect at all.
Read
the State Department’s webpage on customs
and import restrictions for information on what you cannot take into or out
of other countries.
Police Response
The
emergency line in Niger is 17. The police sometimes lack the resources (e.g.
vehicles, fuel) to respond immediately to calls for assistance.
- The
Police Nationale is the main law enforcement force for cities and villages, and
falls under the Interior Ministry (MOI). Officers typically wear black berets.
- The
Garde Nationale falls under the MOI, and is charged with guarding prisons and
government buildings. While dressed like soldiers but typically with red berets,
Garde members have civilian arrest authority, can conduct checkpoints, and can
be called on to quell civil disturbances.
- The
Gendarmerie falls under the Ministry of Defense and also has civilian arrest
authority. The Gendarmes typically cover the rural areas and roadways; they
typically wear green berets.
U.S.
citizens who have been victims of crime should immediately contact the local
police. If the police are unable to respond, U.S. citizens should contact the
U.S. Embassy. Download the State Department’s Crime Victims Assistance brochure.
Medical Emergencies
Medical
care does not meet U.S. standards. Healthcare is substandard when available,
and completely inadequate or non-existent outside the capital. Hospitalization
is risky. Infections following minor procedures are common even at the best
medical facilities. Find contact information for available medical services and
available air ambulance services on the U.S.
Embassy website.
Drugs,
bandages, IV fluids, and other supplies are often in short supply in local
hospitals. Niger has a substantial trade in counterfeit pharmaceuticals that
poses a significant hazard for those seeking medications. Bring prescriptions
and over-the-counter medications – particularly anti-malarial medication – with
you in sufficient supply; transport these in carry-on luggage in case checked
baggage is lost or delayed.
Emergency
medical assistance (EMT, paramedics) exists only in Niamey (SAMU: dial 15). Appropriately trained responders only staff
ambulances during daylight hours. Most ambulances are dilapidated, have no
emergency equipment, and can take an hour or more to arrive.
Physicians/clinics
do not take insurance or credit cards and typically accept cash only. Purchase
medical evacuation (medevac) insurance if you plan to travel to Niger. The U.S.
Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health
insurance before traveling internationally. Review the State Departments
webpage on insurance
overseas.
Assume
all other water sources are non-potable. Only consume water for drinking and
cooking from a distiller, or if it is sanitized prior to consumption. Diarrheal
illness is quite prevalent, even in cities and luxury accommodations. Care with
food preparation, obtaining drinking water, and stringent handwashing will
prevent most diarrheal illnesses. Review OSAC’s report, I’m
Drinking What in My Water?
Air
quality is poor in Niamey. Travelers with respiratory conditions may experience
worsening symptoms in Niger.
The
CDC recommends the following vaccinations for anyone intending to travel to
Niger: hepatitis A and B, typhoid, polio, yellow fever, quadrivalent
meningococcal, and rabies. Travelers must have documentation showing a current
yellow fever vaccination to enter Niger. Niger is located in the meningitis
belt of West Africa, and experiences epidemics of meningitis every few years,
typically between December and June.
There
is year-round transmission of malaria in Niamey, given the urban landscape and
proximity to the Niger River. Any of the following antimalarial drugs are
acceptable options for preventing malaria in Niger: atovaquone-proguanil,
doxycycline, or mefloquine. Chloroquine is NOT an effective antimalarial drug
due to resistance.
The
CDC lists Niger as an “Other Area with Zika Risk” due to the presence of Aedes
mosquitos and lack of adequate surveillance to detect Zika transmission.
Because Zika infection in a pregnant woman can cause birth defects, pregnant
women should not visit Niger.
The
CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance for Niger.
Review OSAC’s reports, The
Healthy Way, Traveling
with Medication, I’m
Drinking What in My Water?, Shaken:
The Don’ts of Alcohol Abroad, Health 101: How to Prepare
for Travel, and Fire
Safety Abroad.
OSAC Country Council
Information
Niger’s
OSAC Country Council meets quarterly. Interested private-sector security
managers should contact OSAC’s Africa team
with any questions or to join.
U.S. Embassy Contact
Information
Ambassade des États-Unis, Rue des
Ambassades, Niamey
Embassy Hours: Monday-Thursday:
0800-1730, Friday 0800-1300.
Embassy Switchboard: +227
20-72-26-61/62/63/64
Marine Post One: Land line
+227-20-72-31-41 (after hours) or +227-99-49-90-33
Website:
http://ne.usembassy.gov
Helpful Information
Before
you travel, consider the following resources:
