CRSV: Niger
This case note documents the occurrence of sexual violence in violent conflict. It contains explicit mentions of different forms of sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised.
Background of the conflict
On July 26, 2023, a coup d’état occurred in Niger, when the presidential guard removed and detained president Mohamed Bazoum and the Commander of the Presidential Guard, General Abdourahamane Tchiani proclaimed himself the leader of the country and established the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland. In response, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) invade an ultimatum and gave the coup leaders a week to reinstate the president. However, no military intervention took place. While all active members of ECOWAS except Cape Verde pledged to engage their armed forces to support a military intervention against the Nigerien junta, the military juntas of Burkina Faso and Mali announced their support for the junta in Niger should the Internet in happen. However, the ECOWAS imposed sanctions on Niger, which it lifted in February 2024 on humanitarian grounds.
Prevalence of sexual violence
A cycle of debt and poverty has faced several women to turn to sex trade, which has left them vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation, as well as trafficking and sexual slavery (Volkmann and Levitt, 2024). There has also been an increase in child marriages as a result of the coup (Da Silva, 2024). According to a 2022 report by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), women and girls constitute 69% of victims and survivors of trafficking in Niger. Amnesty International (2023) reported that youth vigilantes supporting the coup had sexually assaulted several women during illegal patrols.
Basis of the use of sexual violence
Sexual violence and rape have been used as a means to humiliate and intimidate women for actually or purportedly resisting the coup. It has also been used to target women for their political allegiance. It has also been carried out for economic gain where sex trafficking has been used as a means to make money. Aside from this, opportunistic and transactional or survival sex were also prevalent.
References
Da Silva, I.S. (2024). Niger’s Military Coup Triggers Child Marriages, Sex Work in Neighboring Countries. https://www.ipsnews.net/2024/04/nigers-military-coup-triggers-child-marriages-sex-work-neighboring-countries/
IOM (2022). Women and girls moose trafficked in Niger: Study. https://www.iom.int/news/women-and-girls-most-trafficked-niger-iom-study#:~:text=Niamey%20%E2%80%93%20Women%20and%20girls%20constitute,of%20victims%20of%20human%20trafficking.
Volkmann, E., & Levitt, T. (2024). A cycle of debt, sex work and cocaine: the women in west Africa caught in Europe’s drugs trail. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/ng-interactive/2024/jun/14/a-cycle-of-debt-sex-work-and-cocaine-the-women-in-west-africa-caught-in-europes-drugs-trail
