Niger Dossier 2024

The plight of Christians in Niger has escalated significantly, particularly in the wake of the July 2023 coup. The coup has instilled a heightened sense of fear among the Christian community, as it is widely believed that the Wagner Group, known for their ruthless tactics, is likely to move in, especially since the Nigerien junta has called for the withdrawal of Western troops from the country. This development further exacerbates the existing challenges faced by Christians in various dimensions:

1. Family pressures: Converts from Islam to Christianity continue to face severe familial pressure to renounce their new faith. Tactics range from verbal threats to physical force, and the escalation of political instability makes these individual vulnerabilities even more pronounced.
2. Jihadist threats: The country is witnessing a surge in jihadist activities, particularly in the western and south-eastern regions. In areas under effective jihadist control, the situation for Christians is dire. Communal worship and meetings are fraught with peril, often conducted in secrecy to mitigate the risk of violent attacks.
3. Employment discrimination: Christians increasingly find themselves sidelined in the public sector. Employment opportunities within local government services are scant for Christians, and those who do manage to secure positions often face institutional roadblocks, including the denial of promotions, which is becoming a common practice.
4. Legal hurdles: The bureaucratic process for registering churches remains long and cumbersome, a state of affairs that shows little sign of improvement given the current political upheaval.
5. Emerging threats: The expected entry of the Wagner Group, should it materialize, poses a new and unpredictable danger to Christians, as this organization has been accused of committing atrocities against civilians in other contexts.