Disappeared in the sand

Niger, labeled a “migration champion” by EU officials, was given more than €1,3bn between 2014-2020 in humanitarian aid and development aid. Under this and as part of the “European Trust Fund for Africa”, €54m was allocated to migration management. Despite this huge cash injection, no one can say how many people have died on the new clandestine desert routes which appeared after the law’s introduction. Some estimate it could be deadlier than the Mediterranean.

A team of journalists traveled to the desert town of Agadez, Niger to see the law’s impact on the ground and if it can truly “save lives.”

Research suggests this law – backed by the EU – has led to more dangerous routes and an uncounted death toll in the desert. Hundreds of millions of euros of EU taxpayer’s money spent on Niger has been touted as a success by Brussels, who appear keen to replicate the Nigerian model - but what remains is a desert full of secrets and missing people.

The testimonies of migrants and former and current drivers have been combined with a year-long OSINT research of the investigative platform Border Forensics.