Niger’s military rulers have approved a nationwide mobilisation, authorising the state to draw on people and resources as it confronts a worsening insurgency.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting on Friday, according to a government statement seen by AFP on Saturday.
Under the measures, authorities can requisition citizens, property and services in what the junta describes as the defence of the homeland. Officials said all citizens must comply immediately with call-up orders and mobilisation directives.
The military government said the move was necessary to safeguard national territory and protect civilians from escalating militant violence.
Niger has battled an insurgency for more than a decade, involving groups linked to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State. Nearly 2,000 people have been killed, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.
Attacks continue across several regions, including the southeast, where Boko Haram and its Islamic State West Africa Province offshoot remain active.
The mobilisation comes almost two years after the army overthrew elected president Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023. Since then, the junta has expanded the armed forces, doubling troop numbers and extending retirement ages for senior officers.
Authorities have also encouraged citizens to make voluntary contributions to a national fund for military equipment and agricultural projects.
After seizing power, the rulers expelled French and US troops who had supported counterinsurgency efforts. Niger has since aligned with Mali and Burkina Faso in a 5,000-strong joint force against insurgents.
With mobilisation under way, the state is signalling its readiness to draw deeply on society as the conflict intensifies.