Between junta and jihadists: a besieged nation’s struggle
Caught between the relentless terror of armed groups and the profound diplomatic isolation triggered by the junta under Abdourahamane Tiani, Niger is grappling with one of the most severe economic and security crises in its recent history. In regions controlled by jihadists, merely surviving has become an act of profound resistance.
As evening settled over the Zinder suburb in southeastern Niger, Rabiatou, a 29-year-old vendor, began dismantling her stall. With her day’s unsold stock of second-hand clothes carefully balanced on her head, she commenced her journey homeward. Despite her efforts, she had managed to sell only a single item throughout the entire day, earning a mere 1,000 F CFA. Half of this meager sum was immediately consumed by transportation costs. Upon her arrival home, her baby, gently secured on her back, gurgled joyfully at the sight of her three