Niger 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report

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:

• OSAC Risk Matrix • OSAC Travelers Toolkit • State Department Traveler’s Checklist • Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)