With the closure of Niger’s airspace, the day after the coup that overthrew Mohamed Bazoum, it was necessary to take the road to leave Niamey then reach Cotonou by road before taking a plane for Dakar. In the Nigerien capital where destinies are at stake, the tension is palpable. The economic situation is deteriorating…

With the closure of the airspace by the military in power, there was only the land route to leave Niamey. Blocked for several days in the Nigerien capital, after the outbreak of the coup that overthrew President Bazoum, many Senegalese and other nationals of the sub-region are making plans to leave this vast territory.  After a journey of several hours on damaged roads, the city of Gaya, border between Niger and Benin, is reached. It is more than 280 km at the end of uncertain and unsafe roads due to insecurity in a country also torn apart by terrorist attacks.
The decisive hour is approaching: will we cross the border without incident? This question was ringing in the minds of all those people who made the trip the day before. And now the moment of truth has arrived. Fortunately, the fears were quickly dispelled. In fact, the indifferent looks of people indicate that the car and its passengers do not attract much attention. The driver and the transport company are regulars on this trip, knowing the protocol to follow at all times to avoid any problems with terrorist groups or security forces.
Yet, the night before, no one had managed to sleep. Questions kept swirling around our minds: how would we act when our backs are against the wall, when options are scarce and when survival becomes the only goal of our businesses? “Follow to survive”: an inner battle to fight. We understood that this was the only way to get out of the embargoed country. This is how all the passengers gathered the necessary courage to board this bus, along with other expatriates in Niger. Passing travellers. General managers.  

Once the border is crossed, a feeling of relief invades everyone. Appetite returns, life regains its flavour. A real sigh of relief. “I rushed to buy a new Sim card and immediately join the group of Senegalese nationals in Niger to share my success, while proudly talking about how I managed this business. It was also a way for me to offer a glimmer of hope to my compatriots in these troubled times. However, a few minutes later, a call and a WhatsApp voice note abruptly extinguished my enthusiasm”, assured a passenger… The call is from a woman. After the first cordial exchanges, she shares her feelings: “Cheikh, you seem to be a generous person and your good will is obvious. However, I cannot leave Niger. My child married a Nigerien, my grandchildren have both Senegalese and Nigerien nationality. Where would I go? To do what? After all these years spent here, I feel at home as much in Senegal as in Niger.” We are left speechless, unable to find an appropriate response.

Families built, uncertain future
The WhatsApp voice note comes from a tailor who lived in Niger for 7 years. He recounts the hardships suffered in Senegal and how he managed to rebuild his life in Niger with dignity thanks to work. He talks about the investments made in his workshop which he proudly named “Senegal Couture” in the heart of Niamey. He shares his professional journey from Pikine to Niamey. In his voice, we perceive courage, resilience, abnegation. He is ready to risk everything, even his life, in the name of the sacrifices made to reach this level.

This is how ECOWAS reveals itself to these nationals, stripped of its borders, in the form of a vast sub-Saharan family. A single entity, a connected body. Although imposing, each part of this body is linked to the rest. Each discomfort affects each organ, each element. “We share a common history, woven from periods of slavery and colonization. Our destiny is as intrinsically linked as our common history,” he says.

Today, the sanctions imposed on Niger do not affect the putschists, but rather the people. He asks himself a lot of questions: “They are inhumane. They destroy the links that people have built and maintained. How can a country be deprived of resources and materials vital to its survival? It is like punishing an entire country for the mistakes of an individual or a minority. Should the faults of the parents be blamed on the children? Should a People pay the price for the errors of its politicians or its military? When we left Niamey, the electricity was only working for a few hours a day. Due to rationing, activities slowed down. Trucks were blocked at the borders, carrying products essential to the daily life of Nigeriens. We could only withdraw from the cashpoint… 10 thousand Fcfa.

In an increasingly complex and tense context, the threat of military intervention by ECOWAS hangs like a shadow on the horizon. But it is crucial to ask against whom this intervention would be directed and for what precise purpose. Aren’t the peoples of the region already suffering enough, between the economic, political and security challenges they face on a daily basis? Undoubtedly, a military intervention would only add another layer of destruction and desolation to an already difficult situation.

These sanctions, which seem to be directed at the leaders, in reality hit the most vulnerable, the most deprived. They exacerbate economic hardship and deprive people of adequate access to essential resources. The paradox is striking: populations, already grappling with multiple crises, become the collateral victims of measures intended to punish political leaders. A burning question then arises: where is the justice for ordinary citizens?

Gaya-Cotonou then Dakar
The testimony of the woman evoking her deep ties with Niger despite the challenges, as well as the resolute voice of the tailor who found a new life in the heart of Niamey illustrate the resilience and determination of men in the face of uncertainty. These stories embody the spirit of survival that drives individuals through the darkest times. They remind us that behind the figures of sanctions and political speeches, it is lives, dreams and hopes that are at stake.

Ultimately, the situation in Niger reveals a far deeper and more complex narrative than media headlines can capture. Behind political tensions and diplomatic considerations lie human stories, communities seeking stability and individuals struggling for a better future. “If ECOWAS, as a regional entity, can put forward solutions that promote the well-being of citizens, rather than penalizing them further, this would mark a significant step towards building West Africa. A more resilient and united, where every person can hope to live in peace and prosperity,” they say.

Having crossed Gaya, heading for Cotonou after travelling for more than 741 km. It is deliverance. The Cotonou-Dakar flight became just a formality for many expatriates in a hurry to get out of Niger, which must face its destiny.

By Cheikh Tidiane DIOUF (Special correspondence)

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH