Executive Summary

The Garkouwar Kassa (Shields of the Homeland)* initiative is a response to the worsening security situation in Niger and is likely to become a defining feature of Niger’s counterinsurgency efforts. The militia will provide a much-needed boost in manpower, but it risks intensifying ethnic-based violence against civilians and creating conditions that fuel jihadist recruitment as they have elsewhere in the Sahel. 

*Background: The alliance of civil society groups in Niger known as M62 on 5 August announced the launch of the Garkouwar Kassa. As part of the initiative, Niamey will train and arm civilian volunteers to contribute to counterinsurgency efforts. Moreover, it shares strong parallels with neighboring Burkina Faso’s Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland (VDP). 

Images Sourced From: ACEI Cheung