Niger: interference and neo-colonialism in the name of development

On 10 October 2016, Niamey welcomed German Chancellor Angela Merkel with pomp and ceremony. She made no secret of the fact that “security” and “immigration” were her two main concerns. Her purpose was to implement the endlessly repeated “recommendations”: Niger, a “transit country” should receive support in order to play its part as migration filter. Programmes to “reinforce local institutions” would make it possible to clearly distinguish between “refugees” – to be protected in situ – and “migrants” (...)