UN seeks more information on reported plans by Niger to expel thousands of Arabs

The United Nations refugee agency is sending a senior official to Niger to get more information on reports that the impoverished West African country plans to expel thousands of Mahamid Arab nomads to Chad.

“We will be looking at whether the proposed government actions could result in statelessness for anyone expelled, if any of these people could be considered refugees, and what conditions or problems they could face if returned to Chad,” UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman Ron Redmond told a news briefing in Geneva today.

The senior UNHCR staff member from the regional office in Benin is expected to travel to the remote Diffa region in the eastern part of Niger, where there are an estimated 100,000 to150,000 Mahamid Arabs, some of whom have lived in the region for decades.

“The Mahamid Arabs have not previously been considered a population of concern to UNHCR, so we want to get more detailed information on the government’s announced plans and on specifically who these people are,” Mr. Redmond said.

“We understand the Mahamid Arabs have large numbers of livestock, including an estimated 100,000 camels, and are putting a big strain on meagre water and grazing resources,” he added. “UNHCR is in contact with Niger authorities and we’re following the situation closely.”