Nigerien Army Builds Relations with Rural Villagers

ADF STAFF

In the battle against extremists in the Sahel, Niger has spent years directly fighting insurgents. Recently, the military tried a different tactic: building trust with rural young people to prevent them from joining extremists in the first place.

That approach inspired members of the Nigerien Armed Forces (FAN), to host a day of songs, skits and other entertainment tailored to in the youth of the agricultural community of Ouallam, about 90 kilometers north of the capital, Niamey. Men and women from four tribes were part of the audience.

The goal was to bring together FAN and the local students around a shared experience and a message of unity. In most cases, the FAN members and their audience were the same age and had the same interests, according to people who attended the event.

Theatrical skits showed how extremist groups recruit new members and how communities can safely report extremist activity. The skits also showed how members of different tribes in the region can work together to prevent extremism. Village women were encouraged to report extremist activities if the men in the village refuse.

The day also included information about dealing with COVID-19. FAN members distributed masks, hand sanitizer and soap to help stop the spread of the virus. The mayor of Ouallam helped distribute T-shirts and toys to the youngest members of the audience.

The day also marked the beginning of a three-week soccer tournament that brings together young people from across the region in a show of unity.

The event, which FAN has repeated in other villages, is the military’s first outreach effort of its kind.

Niger is part of the G5 Sahel Joint Force along with Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Mauritania. The force is focused on fighting Boko Haram, al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb and other groups destabilizing the region.

Last December, FAN lost 71 Soldiers in an extremist attack on a military outpost in Inates, about 100 kilometers east of Ouallam.