African rights body raises alarm over treatment of Niger’s Mahamid Arabs
Summary
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights appealed to Niger’s president over reports that the Mahamid Arab community in Diffa faces limits on access to water, education, healthcare and identity documents. Reports that authorities may require the community to leave remain unverified, and the commission’s appeal is not a formal finding that Niger violated their rights.Key Facts
- The commission sent its urgent appeal to President Abdourahamane Tchiani on November 6, and it became public on November 9.
- The Mahamid are an Arab community with historical links to Chad and Sudan; many live in Niger’s southeastern Diffa region.
- Nigerien officials have accused some Mahamid residents of obtaining nationality documents fraudulently, trafficking arms and links to armed groups; the allegations have not been independently verified.
- African Perceptions reported that an Interior Ministry message dated October 7 instructed authorities to restrict services and documents for the Mahamid, but Al Jazeera did not authenticate the message or confirm that the instructions were carried out.
- Radio Ndarason Internationale reported that Mahamid representatives were told on November 8 they had two months to leave Niger. La Roue de l’Histoire later reported a December 31, 2026 deadline; neither outlet provided a formal expulsion order.
- Al Jazeera said it could not independently confirm an expulsion decision, its legal basis or whether it would apply to the entire community.
- In 2006, Niger suspended a plan to expel Arabs from Diffa to Chad after protests and negotiations.
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