This update has been compiled by Christer Wilkinson from a variety of sources.

Conflict Group Reports
Readers are reminded that the Crisis Group (www.crisisgroup.org) publishes a detailed monthly report on all rebel attacks and other violent incidents in the three countries covered in this news summary and other countries including Burkina Faso.

Hostages
No fresh news on any of the western hostages.

Covid rates
At the time of this report the “total cases” Covid figures were: Niger 5,7434, Mali 14,714, and Tchad 4,984 cases. Due to different collection criteria these figures are not completely comparable. These reported case counts are low compared with other countries, and reflect a surprisingly low per capita infection rate. Unlike some other countries there is no evidence of deliberate mis-reporting.

Migrant trends northbound
The IOM DTM site report for Niger for the month of June was available, but for Mali for the month of July. There was no report for Tchad.

It should be noted that these figures in these reports are only for migrants at the monitoring points and migrants who avoid these points are not included. In addition, the accumulation of refugees at remote frontier points such as Assamaka are not included, nor are repatriation convoys or organized rescues.

The figures (estimated where full details are not available) show migrant traffic across the northern borders of Niger and Mali>

Niger: Madama: around 162/day northwards to Libya: 80/day back from Libya. Arlit: around 184/day north to Algeria and 105/day back from Algeria (Note: no monitoring at Assamaka).

Mali: Summed over all northern monitoring stations: 45/day north to Algeria and 4/day back from Algeria.

Tchad: No report again this month.

Tchad
The relationship with the Africa Union (AU) which initially supported the transition government (CMT) has further deteriorated. The appointment of a previous PM of Senegal as the AU representative to support transition was rejected by the Tchad government (CMT) who stated that Tchad was not under AU “Tutelage”. There was a visit by the AU representatives to N’Djamena in mid-July who then appointed a former Congolese Foreign minister as the new representative.

The new Tchad president went to Paris early in July and met with Macron, who reiterated his support for the transition and also with Yves Le Drian. Later he went to Doha where it was reported he was seeking financial help.

Despite the setup of an “Organizing Committee of National Dialog” by the CMT, several opposition parties claimed it was not representative and biased in favor of the ruling party.

Demonstration are now permitted in the capital, and in late July several hundred demonstrated on behalf of the “Transformer Party” against the CMT rule.

In late July the head of the “FACT” rebel organization indicated they were ready for dialogue with the CMT and take part in the national dialogue. Meanwhile reports indicate that questions are being asked about the fate of the captured FACT soldiers earlier this year.

After the appointment of a new head executive, Glencore is still looking for a buyer of its two oil field investments in Tchad. Earlier in the month the “Paris Club” put pressure on Glencore to mitigate the debt payments owed to it by Tchad.

A report was published which claimed that the previous Tchad president did not die in combat but was killed by a member of Yaya Dillo's family, in revenge. The uncertain fate of an associate of the previous president, last seen in Egypt was also reported. But previous rebel Hassan Fadoul KItir was welcomed back after 21 year of exile in Togo.

Two Russian “Tourists” were reported arrested in the north of the country in late June. An Isreali delegation met with the CMT president in Niamey in late July.

Mali
The depressing series of fatal incidents in conflicts with Jihadists over most of Mali, continued this month. But the event of the month in Mali was the attempted assassination of the interim president and junta leader Assimi Gouti. The suspected assassin died when being held in custody. The National Commission for Human rights has called for an investigation into his death.

Signatories of the 2015 Algiers agreement met in Kidal in the north of the country again in July. France restarted its operations against Jihadists with the Mali army again in early July. At the G5 meeting (see Niger above) Macron announced that he would close three bases in Northern Mali and halve the number of French soldiers by early 2022. (Which is also around the date proposed for new elections.) There were calls for an increase in the number of men deployed by the UN mission in northern Mali.

In Kulikoro, in the west of the country, jihadist kidnapped three Chinese and two Mauritanian nationals. The Mali government is seeking an International address warrant for the son of the previous President IBK, in the case of a journalist which disappeared in 2016. The son, Karim Keita is reported to be in the Ivory Coast.

Niger
The event of the month was the visit of the new Niger president to Europe and the G5 conference which he attended (in person) with Macron His performance at the joint statements, in both France and Germany, was a complete change from his predecessors, and a complete contrast to the heads of Tchad and Mali.

He secure increased French participation in his struggle against Jihadists, and the new Takuba military initiative to be based in Niger. He then followed up with a visit to Algiers at which he was reported to have requested military assistance.

Regrettably the regular and frequently fatal conflicts in the South east of Niger and the Tahoua area have not diminished, but there was still a plan to relocate 130,00 Nigerians back to north east Nigeria now the fighting is mitigated.

An article was published about the recent rise in Turkish investments in Niger, which have included the renovation of the Grand Mosque in Agades and the Sultan’s palace. An undisclosed military agreement was signed in 2020, and there were some reports that Turkey wanted to occupy the old French facilities at Madam, near Libya, since the French have left. But the French are still active in Niamey, where a French made “Reaper” drone was deployed for the first time in action.

A son of the previous president Mohamadou Issoufou was made petroleum minister under the new president in late July.

On the economic front the WAEMU confirmed that Niger had the highest percentage of expenditure on capital projects of any country in the region. Also, a Moroccan group Ymmy Holdings as reported to considering investing in Niamey to a value of 2.8B euros (yes billions), including commercial zones, industrial projects, and additional housing.

The seasonal rains hit Niger again this year. 28 deaths and 12,850 homes destroyed. 8 people died when a vehicle near Timia, in the Air mountains, overturned in a raging Kori (wadi). The northern border of Algeria was reported open again with restricted traffic due to anti-Covid measures.