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Niger’s military rulers have approved a general mobilisation and the requisition of people and goods to fight a long-running terrorist insurgency.
Since overthrowing elected president Mohamed Bazoum in a July 2023 coup, the military government has faced repeated attacks by Islamist militants in different parts of the country.
In a statement seen by AFP on Saturday, the government said the measures were approved at a cabinet meeting on Friday.
Under the decision, people, property and services can be taken or used during the mobilisation to help defend the country, in line with existing laws.
“People, property, and services may be requisitioned during general mobilisation to contribute to the defence of the homeland, in compliance with the legislation and regulations in force,” said a government statement after the meeting.
The government also noted that all citizens must respond immediately to any call-up order and comply with measures taken to defend the country.
“Every citizen is required to respond immediately to any call-up or recall order, to comply without delay with the implementation of measures for the defence of the homeland, and to submit to requisition.”
The government also stated that the measures were necessary to “preserve the integrity of the national territory” and “protect the population”.
Niger has been fighting terrorist groups for more than 10 years, including militants linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group. Nearly 2,000 people have been killed in the violence, according to conflict monitoring group Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED).
The country’s southeast has also suffered attacks by Boko Haram and its rival group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
