Four Moroccan truck drivers went missing along the Burkina Faso-Niger border, a region plagued by jihadist threats. The trucks, carrying infrastructure equipment, departed without escort after waiting for over a week. Local authorities are collaborating with Moroccan diplomats to locate the drivers, amid rising concerns for the safety of transport operations in the Sahel region.
On Saturday, four Moroccan truck drivers went missing while traversing the perilous border region between Burkina Faso and Niger, according to sources from the Moroccan embassy in Burkina Faso and a Moroccan transport union. The disappearance involved three trucks, one of which was carrying a spare driver, as they drove without an escort from Dori in Burkina Faso to Tera in Niger, a region notorious for jihadist threats. The Moroccan embassy is collaborating with local authorities to locate the missing drivers.
Burkina Faso and Niger, governed by military juntas, are engaged in efforts to combat Islamist militant factions affiliated with al Qaeda and the Islamic State. Over the last decade, these insurgencies have severely undermined stability throughout Sahel countries in West Africa. In light of ongoing threats, local authorities have been organizing security convoys to escort trucks within the border area to minimize the risk of militant attacks.
The trucks, loaded with infrastructure materials, set off after enduring a week-long wait without an escort, as indicated by El Charki El Hamchi, Secretary General of Morocco’s transporters’ union. He highlighted the necessity for heightened security measures in high-risk locales as the volume of Moroccan trucks traversing the Sahel continues to increase.
Earlier this month, a convoy consisting of Moroccan trucks was attacked near the Malian border with Mauritania; fortunately, no casualties were reported. In light of these developments, El Hamchi has reiterated the call for improved protections for cargo vehicles in the region, underscoring the urgent need for governmental intervention.
The Sahel region of West Africa faces escalating threats from jihadist groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State, resulting in severe instability across several nations. Burkina Faso and Niger are among the nations grappling with these challenges, leading to the need for secure transport routes. The disappearance of Moroccan truck drivers in this area amplifies concerns about the safety of transportation networks and the necessity for reliable security escorts to safeguard vital cargo activities in conflict-prone zones.
The disappearance of four Moroccan truck drivers highlights the increasing dangers faced by transport professionals in the Sahel region, particularly along the Burkina Faso-Niger border. As militant threats persist and attacks on convoys become more frequent, the call for enhanced security measures has intensified. Both Moroccan and local authorities must prioritize the safety of transport operations to ensure secure trade routes in this volatile area.
Original Source: www.straitstimes.com
