Four Moroccan truck drivers have gone missing while crossing the dangerous border region between Burkina Faso and Niger. Reports indicate that they were traveling without an escort in an area prone to jihadist threats. Burkinabe authorities are working with the Moroccan embassy to locate the drivers, and calls for increased security in the region continue amidst rising tensions.
On Saturday, four Moroccan truck drivers vanished while traversing the tumultuous border region between Burkina Faso and Niger. According to sources from the Moroccan embassy in Burkina Faso and a Moroccan transport union, three trucks—one with a spare driver—lost contact while journeying unescorted from Dori in Burkina Faso to Tera in Niger. This region is notorious for jihadist threats, prompting heightened concerns for their safety.
Both Burkina Faso and Niger, currently under military rule, are engaged in ongoing confrontations with Islamist militant factions linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State. Over the past decade, these insurgencies have contributed significantly to the destabilization of West Africa’s Sahel region. Efforts are underway, as noted by a diplomatic source, with the Moroccan embassy collaborating with authorities to locate the missing drivers.
In response to these threats, Burkinabe authorities have been organizing security convoys to safeguard trucks operating in the border zone. The missing trucks had been delayed for a week while awaiting an escort, as expressed by El Charki El Hamchi, Secretary General of Morocco’s transporters’ union. The trucks were transporting infrastructure equipment, having departed weeks earlier from Casablanca en route to Niger.
El Hamchi has called for enhanced security measures in high-risk areas, amid a rising trend of Moroccan trucks traversing the Sahel. Earlier this month, amidst similar dangers, a convoy of Moroccan trucks faced an attack near the Malian border with Mauritania; fortunately, there were no reported casualties from that incident. REUTERS
The Sahel region of West Africa has witnessed increasing instability due to persistent assaults by jihadist groups associated with al Qaeda and the Islamic State. The security situation in these areas poses significant risks for transportation and commercial activities, compelling Morocco and other nations to seek effective strategies to protect their citizens and assets. Recent incidents, such as attacks on truck convoys, highlight the urgent need for protective measures.
The disappearance of the four Moroccan truck drivers underscores the escalating risks associated with traversing the perilous border between Burkina Faso and Niger. Joint efforts by Moroccan and Burkinabe authorities aim to locate the drivers, emphasizing the need for enhanced security measures to safeguard transport routes in this volatile region. Continuous threats from jihadist militants necessitate urgent and coordinated responses to ensure the safety of those operating in the Sahel.
Original Source: www.straitstimes.com
