Your go-to source for in-depth coverage of political developments, economic trends, social affairs, and vibrant cultural stories from across the continent.
Authorities in northern Niger have announced the relocation of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) transit center in Agadez following a violent outbreak between Nigerian migrants and local residents that left three people injured and over 170 shelters destroyed by fire.
The violence, which unfolded over June 18 and 19 in the Tekazamte district, stemmed from rising tensions between residents and more than 1,600 Nigerian migrants residing in an informal settlement known as “Gadon Kaya” on the city’s outskirts.
These migrants, who arrived independently and without IOM assistance, have refused to vacate the area surrounding the official IOM center, drawing repeated complaints from locals over alleged thefts and violence.
Municipal authorities reported that the clashes began after a youth was “wrongly accused” of setting fire to two huts in the camp, triggering retaliatory violence involving knives and other weapons.
The unrest resulted in the arrest of a migrant identified as the ringleader and the transfer of over 1,570 irregular migrants to a regional facility designated for Nigerian deportees returning from Algeria.
In response to the unrest, an emergency meeting was convened on Friday, June 20, led by Commander Assarid Almoustapha, the city’s delegated administrator.
Representatives from key humanitarian partners—including IOM, UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF, Médecins du Monde (MDM), and COOPI—participated to coordinate emergency aid and response efforts.
Food kits, cooked meals, and medical services were promptly delivered to affected migrants.
During the meeting, authorities mandated humanitarian agencies to submit a repatriation acceleration plan within 72 hours.
Simultaneously, a decision was made to relocate the IOM center to a new site west of Agadez, along the Tahoua road—away from residential neighborhoods.
Local residents have long criticized the center’s current location in the heart of Agadez, alleging it fuels urban insecurity, including theft and assaults, and expressing concerns over its impact on community safety.
As a crucial transit point in the Sahel region, Agadez has seen surging migration flows, hosting over 31,400 returnees from Algeria in 2024 alone, according to the NGO Alarme Phone Sahara.
The IOM center plays a vital role in managing these flows by providing shelter, psychosocial support, vocational training, and facilitating voluntary returns
Yet with migrants often waiting months or even years for repatriation, the center has faced mounting overcrowding and pressure on local resources.
The relocation marks a significant shift in how the city intends to balance humanitarian needs with public order, as it grapples with the ongoing challenges of migration management in the Sahel.
