A significant wave of displacement is currently unfolding in western Niger, according to several local accounts. The town of Téra has seen its population swell with the arrival of numerous families from the southern part of the department, who have been seeking safety in the urban center and its surrounding areas since the end of last month.
The commune of Diagourou is reportedly being deserted. Multiple reports confirm that militants from Jnim (the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims) issued an ultimatum to the inhabitants of approximately thirty villages, forcing them to leave their homes. Located just ten kilometers from Téra, a key garrison town situated on the right bank of the Niger River, Diagourou sits within the volatile “three borders” region shared with Burkina Faso and Mali. This area is a frequent flashpoint for activity by both Jnim and the Islamic State in the Sahel (ISS).
Dire living conditions for the displaced
Witnesses describe the situation for those arriving in Téra as extremely precarious. Many families, including women and children, are living in the open air, sometimes camping on vacant plots of land or being taken in by local host families whose resources are already stretched thin.
While precise statistics on this latest surge of movement are not yet available, the villages of the Diagourou commune are known to house thousands of people, suggesting a humanitarian crisis of significant scale.
