Niger: Information on Tuareg rebels, whether they are still active and whether members of the Hausa ethnic group are likely to be suspected of supporting the Tuareg rebels
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 August 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | NER18052.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Niger: Information on Tuareg rebels, whether they are still active and whether members of the Hausa ethnic group are likely to be suspected of supporting the Tuareg rebels, 1 August 1994, NER18052.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aae433.html [accessed 6 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information on whether members of the Hausa ethnic group are likely to be suspected of supporting the Tuareg rebels is currently unavailable to the DIRB in Ottawa. However, according to Encyclopedia of the Third World, the Hausa make up 50 per cent of the population, and Tuaregs and Hausas have historically been hostile to each other (1992, 1419). According to The Guardian, the Tuaregs are nomads of Berber descent who began their rebellion in 1990 "against what they said was oppression by black-led governments in Niger and neighbouring Mali" (19 Aug. 1994).
Although the government has negotiated a series of cease-fire agreements with the rebels, some Tuaregs continue to fight what they perceive as the Hausa and Djerma-dominated government of Niger (AFP 19 Mar. 1994; BBC Summary 28 Feb. 1994; Reuters 16 Aug. 1994; ibid. 19 May 1994; ibid. 25 Feb. 1994; ibid. 31 Jan. 1994; The Independent 11 June 1994; Europa 1993 1993, 2137-38). Country Reports 1993, which is available at your Regional Documentation Centre, corroborates the information provided by the above-named sources (1994, 205-11).
Jeune Afrique states that there are four Touareg rebel groups operating in Niger: the Front de libération de l'Air et de l'Azawak (FLAA), the Front de la libération Temust (FLT), the Armée révolutionaire de libération du Nord Niger (ARLNN) and the Front patriotique de libération du Sahara (FPLS) (27 July-3 Aug. 1994, 20). The Coordination de la résistance armée (CRA), an umbrella group, tries to speak with one voice for the Tuareg resistance movement in Niger (ibid.). For information on the ethnic composition of Niger, the Tuareg rebel groups and further examples of recent Tuareg rebel activity against the Niamey government, please refer to the other attachments.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Agence France Presse (AFP). 19 March 1994. "The Dead in Niger After Tuareg Rebel Attack." (NEXIS)
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 28 February 1994. "Clashes in North Between Tuaregs and Army." (NEXIS)
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993. 1994. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.
Encyclopedia of the Third World. 1992. Vol. 2. Edited by George Thomas Kurian. New York: Facts on File.
The Europa World Year Book 1993. 1993. Vol. 2. London: Europa Publications Ltd.
The Guardian [London]. 19 August 1994. "Niger Military Fight Off Rebels." (NEXIS)
The Independent [London]. 11 June 1994. "Travel Departures: Niger Danger." (NEXIS)
Jeune Afrique [Paris]. 28 July-3 August 1994. No. 1751. Francis Kpatindé. "Le combat des hommes du nulle part."
Reuters. 16 August 1994. BC Cycle. "Army Kills 11 Tuareg Rebels in Niger." (NEXIS)
. 19 May 1994. BC Cycle. "Twenty Tuaregs Killed in Clashes in Niger." (NEXIS)
. 25 February 1994. BC Cycle. "Hundreds of Rescuers Used Dogs and Sonar Equipment...." (NEXIS)
. 31 January 1994. BC Cycle. "Two People Killed by Tuareg Rebels in Niger." (NEXIS)
Attachments
Agence France Presse (AFP). 19 May 1994. Marie Sanz. "Cinq rebelles touaregs tués au Niger près de la frontière avec le Mali." (NEXIS)
. 19 March 1994. "The Dead in Niger After Tuareg Rebel Attack." (NEXIS)
. 17 September 1992. "Niger Seeking to Extradite Tuaregs Arrested in Algeria." (NEXIS)
. 5 June 1992. "Le gouvernement réfuse de réconduire la trêve avec la rébellion touaregue." (NEXIS)
. 15 May 1992. "Trêve de deux semaines pour preparer une 'paix definitive'." (NEXIS)
. 12 May 1992. "Le gouvernement et la rébellion decides à négocier, selon M. Cheffou." (NEXIS)
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 28 February 1994. "Clashes in North Between Tuaregs and Army." (NEXIS)
Le Devoir [Montréal]. 8 January 1992. "Rébellion des Touaregs."
Documentation Réfugiés [Paris]. 21 December 1993-3 January 1994. No. 232. "Niger," p. 6.
. 25 June-5 July 1993. No. 219. "Niger," p. 5.
. 11-24 May 1993. No. 216. "Niger," p. 4.
Encyclopedia of the Third World. 1992. 4th ed. Vol. 2. Edited by George Thomas Kurian. New York: Facts on File, p. 1419.
The Europa World Year Book 1993. 1993. Vol. 2. London: Europa Publications Ltd., pp. 2137-38.
La Grande Encyclopedie du Monde. 1988. Vol. 10. Edited by Jean-Pierre Turbergue. Brueselles: Editions Allen s.a., p. 4714.
The Guardian [London]. 19 August 1994. "Niger Military Fight Off Rebels." (NEXIS)
The Independent [London]. 11 June 1994. "Travel Departures: Niger Danger." (NEXIS)
Jeune Afrique [Paris]. 28 July-3 August 1994. No. 1751. Francis Kpatindé. "Le combat des hommes du nulle part," pp. 17-23.
Libération [Paris]. 24 September 1992. Christophe Boisbouvier. "Rebellion millitaire contre rébellion touareg."
. 15 September 1992. "Niger: Libérations."
. 6 September 1992. Thierry Perret. "La question touareg aux mains de 'la troupe'."
. 15 June 1990. Stephen Smith. "Massacres de Touaregs au Niger."
Le Monde [Paris]. 14 May 1992. "Niger: Trêve et négociations avec la rébellion touarague." (NEXIS)
Politique Africaine [Paris]. June 1989. No 34. André Bourgeot. "Le lion et la gazelle: Etat et Tourages," pp. 19-29.
Reuters. 16 August 1994. BC Cycle. "Army Kills 11 Tuareg Rebels in Niger." (NEXIS)
. 19 May 1994. BC Cycle. "Twenty Tuaregs Killed in Clashes in Niger." (NEXIS)
. 25 February 1994. BC Cycle. "Hundreds of Rescuers Used Dogs and Sonar Equipment...." (NEXIS)
. 31 January 1994. BC Cycle. "Two People Killed by Tuareg Rebels in Niger." (NEXIS)
Salifou, André. 1993. La question touarègue au Niger. Paris: Editions Karthala, pp. 84-148.
West Africa [London]. 21-27 February 1994. "Dateline Niger: New Tuareg Movement," p. 317.
. 14-20 February 1994. "Dateline Niger: Peace Talks," p. 269.
. 11-17 October 1993. "Dateline Niger: Tuareg Leader Defects," p. 1834.
. 20-26 September 1993. "Dateline Niger: Truce Renewed," p. 1684.
. 14-20 June 1993. "Dateline Niger: A Development Centre was Attacked...." p. 1011.
World Directory of Minorities. 1991. London: Longman Group UK Ltd., pp. 258-60.
