369 Former Jihadists Joins Niger Army

The Nigerien government has confirmed that hundreds of former jihadists and armed group members who surrendered to authorities have completed rehabilitation training and been integrated into the national army.

According to state broadcaster RTN, 369 ex-fighters, including 307 men, 21 women, and 41 children, graduated on Monday after several months of training near the capital, Niamey.

The Nigerien Ministry of Interior said in a statement obtained by AFP that the training began in late 2024 as part of efforts to reintegrate former insurgents and promote peace in conflict-affected regions.

“A good number of them have been integrated to serve under the national flag,” the statement read. “Others have received support kits to carry out income-generating activities.”

The report noted that 84 individuals received start-up kits to establish small businesses, while others were absorbed into the country’s security structure after passing screening and training assessments.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Governor of Tillaberi, Colonel Maina Boukar, hailed the initiative as a milestone in the country’s deradicalisation programme, urging citizens to embrace the returnees.

“These men, who were once misguided but have now chosen to renounce violence and reconcile with the Republic, should no longer be regarded as enemies,” Boukar said. “They are now part of the solution, helping rebuild the peace they once threatened.”

The governor also commended the Nigerien military and local authorities for facilitating the reintegration process, which he described as a step toward long-term stability in the Sahel nation.

Niger’s military authorities, who seized power in a 2023 coup, continue to face persistent jihadist threats from multiple fronts. The country remains a target of Boko Haram attacks in the Lake Chad basin, as well as assaults by Al-Qaeda and Islamic State-affiliated groups in the western Tillaberi region.

In the north, Niger’s security forces are also contending with armed groups loyal to the ousted regime, raising the stakes for national security and political stability.

The integration of former militants into the army is seen as both a strategic counterterrorism measure and a peacebuilding initiative aimed at breaking the cycle of radicalisation and violence.

The government’s deradicalisation approach, launched shortly after the coup, focuses on offering “repentant” fighters an opportunity to rebuild their lives through skills training, counselling, and community engagement.

Officials believe that giving former insurgents a stake in society reduces the risk of recidivism while strengthening national unity.

“The goal is not only to disarm them but to reintegrate them meaningfully,” a senior official at the Ministry of Interior told RTN. “They have undergone civic re-education and now understand the values of peace, discipline, and patriotism.”

As Niger continues to battle insecurity across its borders, the successful reintegration of the ex-fighters offers a glimmer of hope—and a test of trust between former adversaries now united under the same flag.

The government says it will continue to expand the programme to other regions while ensuring that the reintegration process remains transparent and community-focused.

For many in Niamey, Monday’s ceremony marked more than just a graduation—it symbolised a fragile but vital step toward peace in a country long scarred by conflict.