If there is one area in which the State of Niger has remained constant and determined for more than a decade, it is that of the fierce fight against the terrorist hydra, and therefore of security and defense. the integrity of our national territory. Convinced that Niger is at the confluence of several sources of tension and that our survival depends on our ability to stay straight in our boots, and to ensure the effective defense of our borders, and our living space, both the former President Issoufou Mahamadou, as the current Bazoum Mohamed, spared neither their efforts nor the adequate means to fight without weakness the aggressors of all kinds.
Thus, Niger remains the only country in the Central Sahel to have control of all its territory and where the President of the Republic, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces can move as he pleases in Baroua, not far from the bases of Boko Haram in Lake Chad, in Anzourou and Zarmaganda, as in Tilia in the Tahoua region. This state of affairs reflects not only the firm political determination but also the courage and bravery of our soldiers on the ground. The efforts made by our authorities at the highest level have contributed to strengthening the effectiveness of the strategic and operational interventions of the Defense and Security Forces (FDS).
The various military and paramilitary bodies have benefited from new recruitment, training, the creation of special units, substantial allocations of material and logistical means, air vectors, adequate infrastructure, as well as specific actions to improve the living environment. This made it possible to densify the territorial network in FDS and to obtain significant results in terms of securing and defending the integrity of the territory. Despite the increase in armed incidents, the number of victims (civilian and military) has halved between 2021 and 2022. Similarly, the destruction of the capacities of armed terrorist groups has resulted in the gradual and significant decline in effectiveness of their actions. The efforts undertaken in terms of peace have resulted in the defense of the integrity of the territory and the strengthening of public security.
Daily patrols and regular monitoring actions have made it possible to significantly reduce the nuisance capacity of terrorist groups and armed bandits. The improvement in the security situation has facilitated the return of internally displaced populations to their places of origin, particularly in the Diffa and Tillabéri regions. We also remember the visit made on February 10, 2023 to Tégué in Gorouol, by the Minister in charge of the Interior, where he was in direct contact with the populations who returned to their areas of origin which they abandoned for some time due to insecurity.
The purpose of this visit was to observe, on the one hand, the situation of the populations of Tégué, to support and comfort them, and, on the other hand, to reaffirm the will of the State to secure them. “We organized this return after having put in place a substantial security system to reassure the populations. Then everyone was transported in very good conditions. Everyone returned to Tégué safe and sound. It was our duty and in accordance with the instructions of the President of the Republic to come and see firsthand, to see the situation prevailing in Tégué”, declared the Minister in charge of the Interior, Mr. Hamadou Adamou Souley. Furthermore, in terms of preserving social cohesion, peacebuilding actions have contributed to preventing the risk of community conflicts and to the gradual surrender of young people enrolled in terrorist organizations.
To further strengthen the operational capacities of the FDS in human resources, 2 military training schools have been created in Niamey for senior officers and in Dosso for trainers from existing training centers. In terms of material and logistical resources, the FDS have been provided with armored vehicles and air vectors. Added to this is the construction of infrastructure, which focused in particular on the construction and rehabilitation of office buildings, boundary walls and administrative blocks. Other efforts focused on improving the legal framework for security governance. Military cooperation has been strengthened through the signing of agreements and participation in regional security initiatives and peacekeeping missions. In terms of peacebuilding, emphasis was placed on awareness campaigns and improving collaboration between the FDS and the population.
Indeed, within the framework of strengthening peaceful coexistence and social cohesion between communities, several forums and awareness caravans have been organized, particularly in areas affected by insecurity. The capacities of stakeholders in high-risk and cross-border areas, in particular local elected officials, traditional chiefs and young people, have been strengthened in conflict prevention and management. In addition, young people were supported to carry out income-generating activities in several municipalities in the Tillabéri region. With regard to efforts to improve relations of trust and collaboration between the populations and the FDS in the areas of intervention, many civil-military actions have been carried out. Between 2021 and 2022, approximately 80,154 civilians received medical care at FDS health centers. In the same vein, training sessions were organized for the FDS on international humanitarian law.
Oumarou Moussa(one)