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This introductory report provides an overview of Niger's geographic, political, and socio-economic landscape, detailing its transition from a democratic state to a military-led government following a coup in July 2023. It highlights the country's reliance on natural resources, its vulnerability to climate change, and its recent strategic shift away from Western security partnerships toward new regional alliances and partners such as Russia and China.

This research paper examines the dynamics of synthetic drug markets in West Africa, using tramadol as a primary case study to analyze how criminal networks adapt to supply-side disruptions. The report highlights that law enforcement and regulatory efforts often lead to market displacement, increased prices, and the emergence of more dangerous synthetic substitutes rather than the total disruption of the trade.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines community perceptions of organized crime and illicit trafficking in West Africa and the Sahel, specifically focusing on Guinea-Bissau, Mali, and Niger. It argues that in regions where the state is absent or corrupt, trafficking is often viewed not as a crime but as a necessary survival strategy and a sign of social success. The document details a 'vicious cycle' where poverty, crime, and state deprivation reinforce each other, leading to the erosion of traditional social norms and the infiltration of criminal networks into state institutions.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines community perspectives on organized crime and illicit trafficking in West Africa and the Sahel, specifically focusing on Guinea-Bissau, Mali, and Niger. It argues that in regions with weak state presence and extreme poverty, trafficking is often viewed not as a crime but as a necessary survival strategy and a legitimate path to social success. The document details how this criminal economy erodes traditional authority, fuels corruption at all levels of government, and creates a cycle of state alienation, while proposing community-led solutions centered on state integrity and sustainable economic alternatives.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyses the vulnerability and resilience of Niger in the face of rising religious extremism and terrorism following attacks in May 2013. It evaluates Niger's three-pronged national strategy—military, socioeconomic, and legal—and examines the effectiveness of regional cooperation frameworks in the Sahel-Saharan region.

This research paper examines the dynamics of irregular migration along the Niger-Libya corridor, arguing that interventions to reduce migration flows must account for the complex local political economy and the interests of non-state actors in Niger to avoid regional destabilization.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the negative consequences of treating intra-African migration as a security threat, specifically focusing on the experience of Agadez in Niger.