Diffa Arabs
Encyclopedia
Diffa Arabs is the Nigerien name given to Arab
nomadic tribespeople living in eastern Niger
, mostly in the Diffa Region. Numbering no more than 150,000 and accounting for less than %1.5 of the Niger's population
, the Diffa Arabs are in fact the western most dispersion of Arabic speaking Sudanese
nomads, primarily drawn from the Mahamid
sub clan of Sudan
and Chad
.
, filtered into the area between the late 19th century and 1923, joining with those Shoa pastoralists who were already centered in Tintouma area. In the 1950s a small number of Kanem
-Chadian
Arabs moved into the area, but the population remained small. In the mid 70s there were only around 4000 nomadic Arabs in eastern Niger. But following the 1974 Sahelian Drought a much large population of Sudan Arab clans began to move into Niger, followed by others fleeing the civil war
and the Chadian-Libyan conflict in the 1980s, settling near Diffa
.
, Kanuri, and Tuareg communities. News reports quote Nigerien officials during the 2001 census reporting that Arab communities were in constant conflict with their neighbors over resources, were armed, and that "A relative unanimity prevails among the population who want them to leave the area"
announced that it would deport the Arabs living in the Diffa region of eastern Niger to Chad. This population numbered about 150,000. While the government was rounding up Arabs in preparation for the deportation, two girls died, reportedly after fleeing government forces, and three women suffered miscarriages. Niger's government eventually suspended a controversial decision to deport Arabs. Arab Nigeriens protested that they were legal citizens of Niger, with no other home to return to, and that the Military of Niger
had seized their livestock, their only means of livelihood.
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
nomadic tribespeople living in eastern Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
, mostly in the Diffa Region. Numbering no more than 150,000 and accounting for less than %1.5 of the Niger's population
Demographics of Niger
This article is about the demographic features of the population of Niger, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population....
, the Diffa Arabs are in fact the western most dispersion of Arabic speaking Sudanese
Sudan (region)
The Sudan is the name given to a geographic region to the south of the Sahara, stretching from Western to Eastern Africa. The name derives from the Arabic bilâd as-sûdân or "land of the Blacks"...
nomads, primarily drawn from the Mahamid
Mahamid
The Mahamid clan is a sub-category of the greater Sudanese-Arab Rizeigat tribe in Northern Darfur, and is being led by Sheikh Musa Hilal. The Mahamid are mostly known for supplying forces to the Janjaweed militias, who are --although not officially-- being backed by the federal Islamic government...
sub clan of Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
and Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
.
Movement into Niger
The Nigerien Arab populations include groups drawn from the Shoa or Baggara Arabs, the first clans of whom are believed to have arrived in what is now Niger sometime in the 19th century. Small groups of the Ouled Sliman, overrunning the Kanem EmpireKanem Empire
The Kanem Empire was located in the present countries of Chad, Nigeria and Libya. At its height it encompassed an area covering not only much of Chad, but also parts of southern Libya , eastern Niger and north-eastern Nigeria...
, filtered into the area between the late 19th century and 1923, joining with those Shoa pastoralists who were already centered in Tintouma area. In the 1950s a small number of Kanem
Kanem Region
Kanem is one of the 22 regions of Chad, corresponding to the former prefecture of Kanem. Its capital is Mao. It is named after the famous Kanem Empire, which was centered in this vicinity.The region of Kanem is divided into 3 departments:-Demography:...
-Chadian
Chadian
Chadian may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to the country of Chad* A person from Chad, or of Chadian descent. For information about the Chadian people, see Demographics of Chad and Culture of Chad. For specific persons, see List of Chadians...
Arabs moved into the area, but the population remained small. In the mid 70s there were only around 4000 nomadic Arabs in eastern Niger. But following the 1974 Sahelian Drought a much large population of Sudan Arab clans began to move into Niger, followed by others fleeing the civil war
Chadian Civil War
The Transitional Government of National Unity was the coalition government of armed groups that nominally ruled Chad from 1979 to 1982, during the most chaotic phase of the long-running civil war that began in 1965. The GUNT replaced the fragile alliance led by Félix Malloum and Hissène Habré,...
and the Chadian-Libyan conflict in the 1980s, settling near Diffa
Diffa
Diffa is a city and Urban Commune in the extreme southeast of Niger, near that country's border with Nigeria, with a population of 23,600 . It is the administrative seat of both Diffa Region, and the smaller Diffa Department...
.
Tensions with neighbors
Many in the Diffa Arab community fought against 1990s Tuareg rebellion, and in recent years, have come into increased conflict with HausaHausa people
The Hausa are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. They are a Sahelian people chiefly located in northern Nigeria and southeastern Niger, but having significant numbers living in regions of Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Chad and Sudan...
, Kanuri, and Tuareg communities. News reports quote Nigerien officials during the 2001 census reporting that Arab communities were in constant conflict with their neighbors over resources, were armed, and that "A relative unanimity prevails among the population who want them to leave the area"
Diffa Arabs expulsions, 2006
In October 2006, NigerNiger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
announced that it would deport the Arabs living in the Diffa region of eastern Niger to Chad. This population numbered about 150,000. While the government was rounding up Arabs in preparation for the deportation, two girls died, reportedly after fleeing government forces, and three women suffered miscarriages. Niger's government eventually suspended a controversial decision to deport Arabs. Arab Nigeriens protested that they were legal citizens of Niger, with no other home to return to, and that the Military of Niger
Military of Niger
The Niger Armed Forces comprises both the military and national police services of the West African nation of Niger, totaling around 12,000 active personnel and 5,000 reservists...
had seized their livestock, their only means of livelihood.