More children in Niger are being killed or forcibly recruited by armed groups operating along the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, according to a new report highlighting the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Sahel region.
devastating impact on children in Tillabéri
A 64-page study by Amnesty International, titled “Nothing Left for Me, Not Even Myself”: The Growing Toll of Conflict on Children in Niger’s Tillabéri Region, documents the severe consequences of the ongoing violence. The report focuses on the activities of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) and the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate, both of which have been implicated in war crimes and human rights violations.
These groups have targeted civilians, schools, and food supplies, leaving children traumatized. In some areas, women and girls face severe restrictions, including forced marriages to fighters. The report underscores that entire generations in Tillabéri are growing up amid death and destruction.
In the Tillabéri region of Niger, a whole generation is growing up surrounded by death and destruction.
Matt Wells, Deputy Director of Crisis Response at Amnesty International
Matt Wells emphasized the urgent need for Nigerien authorities and international partners to take immediate action to prevent further abuses and protect civilians, particularly children.
The report highlights that Nigerien security forces have struggled to protect civilians, with witnesses reporting delayed responses to attacks. In some cases, security forces arrived only after killings and looting had already taken place.
Amnesty International classifies the conflict in Tillabéri as a non-international armed conflict due to the intensity of violence and the organized nature of ISGS and GSIM.
targeted killings and child recruitment
Violence against civilians in Niger has surged in 2021, with 544 deaths recorded between January and July, compared to 397 in 2020, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). Over 60 children were killed in attacks in the tri-border area this year alone, with ISGS responsible for most large-scale massacres.
A delegation from Amnesty International interviewed 16 boys who narrowly escaped ISGS attacks in their villages. The boys described masked gunmen on motorcycles targeting men and teenage boys. One 13- or 14-year-old boy recounted, “We are used to hearing gunfire and seeing bodies piled up.”
I sometimes have nightmares of being chased by people on motorcycles or reliving Wahab pleading with the attackers.
A boy who witnessed the killing of his 12-year-old friend
Another boy, whose friend was killed in March 2021, shared, “I think about Wahab and how he was killed. I sometimes have nightmares of being chased by people on motorcycles or reliving Wahab pleading with the attackers.”
Attackers have fired into homes, killing or injuring civilians trying to hide. In one incident, a woman and her young daughter were shot while hiding in their home during an alleged ISGS attack.
The Nigerien armed forces withdrew from some border areas after suffering losses to ISGS and GSIM in late 2019, leaving a security vacuum. Witnesses reported that security forces often failed to respond even when attacks lasted for hours.
A 50-year-old man echoed the sentiments of many: “We have been abandoned.”
forced recruitment of minors
The recruitment of children by GSIM has increased significantly in 2021, particularly in the Torodi area near the Burkina Faso border. Witnesses say the group targets boys as young as 15, sometimes younger, offering food, money, or clothing as incentives.
Recruits reportedly undergo weapons training lasting from one week to three months. The group also uses children as spies, scouts, and lookouts—roles defined under international law as direct participation in hostilities.
attacks on education and healthcare
Both ISGS and GSIM oppose what they call “Western education,” leading to the burning of schools and threats against teachers. By June 2021, at least 377 schools in Tillabéri had closed, leaving over 31,000 children without access to education. In rural areas, most school buildings are made of thatch, making them highly vulnerable to arson.
Teachers have also been targeted. A 15-year-old boy from Mogodyougou stated, “The teachers […] left. They would have been killed otherwise.”
The prolonged closure of schools has left many children without education for extended periods. A 14-year-old explained, “We were unhappy when the school closed. After it closed, we stayed home. We had nothing to do.”
Under international humanitarian law, schools are protected unless used for military purposes. Attacks on educational facilities, as documented by Amnesty International, constitute war crimes.
The conflict has also disrupted healthcare, as armed groups have looted health centers. Restrictions on civilian movement further hinder access to medical services. Immunization rates have plummeted, and diseases like measles are spreading.
food insecurity and displacement
During attacks, ISGS has burned grain stocks, looted shops, and stolen livestock, leaving families destitute. Children are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition and related illnesses. A mother of seven told Amnesty International that ISGS fighters burned her family’s granaries during an attack on Zibane village. She said, “Everything was burned… I have nothing left, except myself.”
Amnesty International verified these claims using satellite imagery, confirming targeted destruction of food supplies. These attacks have forced tens of thousands of people to flee, emptying entire villages due to food shortages.
Both ISGS and GSIM frequently impose “taxes” on local populations, often through violence. Humanitarian organizations estimate that 2.3 million people in the region could face food insecurity due to the conflict, drought, and flooding.
psychosocial consequences for children
The relentless violence has taken a severe toll on children’s mental health. Few of those interviewed had access to psychosocial support. Symptoms of trauma, including nightmares, sleep disturbances, fear, anxiety, and loss of appetite, were widespread. Many reported that the sound of motorcycles triggered memories of attacks.
Nigerien authorities and international partners must take urgent measures to equip children with the tools they need to build a future.
Matt Wells, Deputy Director of Crisis Response at Amnesty International
A 15-year-old displaced from his village told Amnesty International, “What I want is for peace to truly return. The government must care about our lives, even here [in the displacement camp]—about food, water, and school. We need school.”
Matt Wells stressed the need for rapid action: “Niger is on the brink. Authorities and partners must act urgently to provide conflict-affected children in Tillabéri with access to education and psychosocial care. Children need tools to build a future.”
escalating conflict in the Sahel
The conflict that began in Mali in 2012 has spread to neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger. Armed groups vie for control of border regions, frequently clashing with Nigerien forces and those of other countries, including Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso, and France.
In 2021, an estimated 13.2 million people across the region will require humanitarian assistance, with 1.9 million displaced.
research methodology
Amnesty International conducted interviews with 119 people, including 22 children, three young adults aged 18 to 20, and 36 parents or other affected individuals. The delegation also spoke with NGO and humanitarian staff, United Nations representatives, and national officials.
