Faced with the persistent terrorist threat, the Nigerien military regime has taken a further step. On Friday, March 27, the Council of Ministers officially adopted an ordinance establishing territorial self-defense organizations .

A new status: "Auxiliaries of the armed forces"

Unlike informal local initiatives of the past, these groups will now be recognized as official auxiliaries of the Defense and Security Forces (FDS). Their missions will be threefold:

1. Raising awareness among local populations.
2. Gathering information in the field.
3. Active self-defense of their respective territories.

The government specified that these volunteers, recruited from among civilians and former members of the FDS, will receive weapons , equipment, as well as financial and social compensation for their commitment.

A highly tense security situation

This decision comes as the junta led by General Abdourahamane Tiani struggles to contain the expansion of armed groups. Despite official pronouncements claiming the situation is "under control," the country is under constant pressure on several fronts:

1. In the West (three borders area): Fighters from the Islamic State in the Sahel (ISS) and JNIM (Al-Qaeda) are increasing their bloody ambushes.
2. In the Southeast: Incursions by Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to destabilize the Lake Chad region.

The human cost: At the end of February, 25 militiamen were killed in an ambush in Anzourou. More recently, eight police officers lost their lives near Tillabéri, illustrating the persistent volatility on the ground.

The Burkinabe model as inspiration

By officially recognizing these civilian auxiliaries, Niger is following in the footsteps of its neighbor, Burkina Faso . Ouagadougou has deployed the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland (VDP) for several years.

While this strategy allows for a rapid increase in the number of combatants, it also raises crucial questions about the supervision of these armed civilians and the risks of escalating intercommunal violence in already fragile areas.