Niger: Regional Conflict, State Abandonment, and the Rise of Non-State Security Providers

The chapter provides knowledge about the role of non-state actors in security provision in Niger. It argues that it is of upmost importance to dig into the causes of ongoing armed conflicts and volatile situations. It points out the long-term decline of public service provision (including the role played by police force in protection rackets) and the growing gap between ruling elites and ordinary citizens. These developments have paved the way for the rise of alternative security providers, including Islamic reformist movements.