Insider published a report by Euronews journalist Valerie Guriat on irregular immigration, with a focus on Niger.
Niger is acting today as the policeman in Europe regarding migration. The idea is simple: enlist police and army to prevent migrants from leaving Niger, choose the lucky few who are entitled to asylum in Europe and keep them in transit centers until further relocations.
In exchange for this effort to reduce illegal immigration, Niger, one of the poorest countries in the world, receives EU funds, including money to help traffickers find new legal jobs.
The number of migrants passing by Niger has decreased dramatically after EU intervention. For Niger, less, according to what the journalist found on the ground. Europe's money is not reaching enough people and can not compensate for the losses of an economy largely dependent on the migration business.
Niger must also face the flow of thousands of African migrants returning from Libya after having suffered all sorts of abuses, and waiting to return to their countries of origin. Migrants, refugees and returnees, including children, are about 300 thousand.
"Certainly the European Union in Niger has not achieved its goals", explains Valerie Guriat. "There are some reasons for this. First of all the funds dedicated to the fight against migration are destined to different projects. One is reforming and reinforcing internal security, managing borders and helping Niger fight the trafficking of human beings. The so-called reconversion package that aims to help people find new economic activities is a small part of it all. Secondly, many people told us that these funds are often managed by development agencies that do not always know how to do so, so there is a lot of red tape and there are a lot of delays ".
Valerie Guriat then met one of the former passers, Abdouramane, who interrupted his activity and benefited from a European Union program for reconversion. To start a new business, Abdouramane received chairs and speakers, which he rented for the holidays.
"Before I made a lot more money, even 800 euro a week. Now only 30 euro a week ", he explains.
"We have complied with the law, we are no longer working, we have stopped, and now the state of Niger and the European Union have abandoned us. People are here, they have families and children, and they have nothing. We eat with our savings, with the money we have made before. It is very hard for us, "said Bachir Amma, president of a group called the Association of former migrant workers.