Refugees – 1998
1998
According to UNHCR country data sheets, 3,830 refugees returned to Niger in 1998.1
While repatriation took place in 1998 this was very much delayed as compared to what had been envisioned in the accord. “In Niger there was also a delay in the repatriation process as envisaged in the 1995 peace accords because of the lack of internal political security across the country and the boycott by certain donor governments following the military coup in January 1996 led by Colonel Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara. The repatriation did not actually start until 1997 but internal difficulties in Niger made the situation worse. The February 1998 mutiny by soldiers in Agadez, who were demanding payment of several monthsÕ salary arrears, delayed the departure of the first convoy sent to Algeria to assist the voluntary repatriation of 10,000 Tuaregs.”2
Repatriation of Niger refugees from Algeria started on March 10, 1998. In the first group, 130 Niger refugees who have been living in designated camps in Guezzam and Djanet in southern Algeria returned to Niger. UNHCR and the Algerian Red Crescent supervised the first voluntary repatriation.3
On 31 March 1998, the UNHCR-Algeria, had said that 258 refugees from Niger were repatriated.4
According to a news report, 400 more refugees left Algeria on April 14, 1998.5 About 360 refugees, who were at the reception centre of Ain Gazzam, Tamanrasset Province, returned to Niger voluntarily on April 30, 1998). The office added that nearly 1,000 other refugees are still at the same centre. They will return to their country voluntarily in two groups on 15 and 25 May 1998. This operation was the fourth of its kind after nearly 860 refugees returned to their country in similar operations.6Within the framework of the voluntary return, about 500 Nigerois refugees returned for their original country, Niger on 15 May 1998.7 The last group of about 500 refugees (120 families) returned to Niger on 25 May 1998. They moved from El Hayat center in Ain Gazam. The operation was overseen by the Algerian Red Crescent in coordination with the UNHCR who provided all the means to transport these families to the Niger border.8 On 6 June 1998, some 400 refugees from Niger, representing 100 families who were based in the southeastern province of Tamanrasset 1,900 km from Algiers and Ain Guezzam returned to Niger.9
- “2002 UNHCR Statistical Yearbook Country Data Sheet — Niger.”
- “Niger: les réfugiés attendront…,” Jeune Afrique, March 3-9, 1998.
- “Algeria: Repatriation Of Niger Refugees to Begin on 11th March,” BBC Monitoring Middle East — Political, March 10, 1998.
- “Algerian daily reports repatriation of 256 refugees to Niger,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, April 2, 1998.
- “Algeria: More Niger Refugees Return Home,” BBC Monitoring Middle East — Political, April 14, 1998.
- “Algeria: About 360 Refugees Repatriated to Niger, More To Follow,” BBC Monitoring Middle East — Political, May 1, 1998.
- “Some 500 Niger refugees return home from Algeria,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, May 18, 1998.
- “Algeria: Unhcr Operation to Repatriate Refugees to Niger Nears Completion,” BBC Monitoring Middle East — Political, May 24, 1998.
- “Niger: Some 400 Refugees Return From Algeria,” BBC Monitoring Africa — Political, June 8, 1998.