Film backdrop image for Sahara: Return to Niger (2022)

202250 minPG-13current-affairs

Sahara: Return to Niger

202250 minPG-13current-affairs

Agadez, Niger, once a bustling hub for migrants crossing the Sahara, now faces economic turmoil and unrest after the government banned human smuggling under EU pressure.

Genres

Channel: The Documentary Channel

Sahara: Return to Niger

2022• 50 minPG-13

Synopsis

Agadez, Niger, once a bustling hub for migrants crossing the Sahara, now faces economic turmoil and unrest after the government banned human smuggling under EU pressure.

Synopsis

Agadez, a historic desert city in Niger, has faced significant upheaval due to European migration policies. Following pressure from the European Union and financial incentives, Niger enacted a law banning migrant transport, leaving over 6,000 smugglers without work. Many smugglers have been arrested, and migrants have been returned to Algeria and Libya. Promised alternative employment has largely failed to materialize, with only 200 jobs created. As tensions rise, some former smugglers have turned to grueling work in Sahara's goldmines, seeking new means to navigate the changing landscape.

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