Nigerien Army Rescues 50 Migrants Stranded in Desert Near Libyan Border

The Nigerien army has rescued 50 migrants, including 20 women and 12 children, who were stranded in the desert near the country’s northern border with Libya.

According to a military statement, the migrants were in distress after their vehicle broke down in the Djado region, about 200 kilometres from Libya.

Facing extreme weather conditions, they were located and assisted by the army’s Rapid Intervention Brigade. The military transported them to a rare water source known as the “Well of Hope,” where they received emergency medical care.

Authorities did not disclose the nationalities of the migrants, who were reportedly heading toward Libya—a major transit point for those attempting to reach Europe.

Niger remains a key route for migration in West Africa. In 2024 alone, over 31,000 migrants were expelled from Algeria to Niger, according to the Nigerien NGO Alarme Phone Sahara (APS).

In January 2025, Libyan authorities deported 770 Nigerien migrants, including around 60 children.

The country’s military government repealed a 2015 law against migrant smuggling following a coup in 2023, which, according to APS, has led to increased movement along migration routes.

The NGO has also raised concerns over the treatment of West African migrants, citing reports of violence and fatal pushback operations from Algeria and Libya.

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