Four Moroccan truck drivers vanished while navigating the dangerous Burkina-Niger border, an area prone to jihadist threats. The drivers were traveling without an escort due to delays in security convoy arrangements. The Moroccan embassy is collaborating with local authorities to ascertain their whereabouts and enhance the protection of truck transporters in the region.
On Saturday, four Moroccan truck drivers went missing while traveling through the perilous border area between Burkina Faso and Niger, confirmed sources from the Moroccan embassy in Burkina Faso and a Moroccan transport union. The disappearance involved three trucks, one of which had an accompanying spare driver, that set off from Dori in Burkina Faso to Tera in Niger without an escort, amidst rising Jihadist threats in the region.
Both Burkina Faso and Niger are currently under military rule and are grappling with insurgent groups associated with al Qaeda and the Islamic State, which have contributed to the destabilization of the Sahel region over the last decade. The Moroccan diplomatic representatives are actively cooperating with local authorities to locate the missing drivers and ensure their safety.
Burkina Faso’s authorities have recently been organizing security convoys to safeguard truck transport in the volatile border region against militant assaults. The trucks commenced their journey only after a week of waiting for an escort, as noted by El Charki El Hamchi, the Secretary General of Morocco’s transporters’ union.
The trucks were en route to Niger, loaded with infrastructure machinery, departing several weeks prior from Casablanca. Mr. Hamchi has called for increased protective measures in high-risk areas due to the rising number of Moroccan trucks passing through the Sahel region. Earlier in the month, there was an attack on a convoy of Moroccan trucks near the Malian border with Mauritania, although fortunately, there were no reported casualties.
The disappearance of the Moroccan truck drivers highlights the growing insecurity in the Sahel region of West Africa, particularly along the borders of Burkina Faso and Niger. Armed groups affiliated with jihadist ideologies have posed significant threats to both local and foreign transporters in the area. The Moroccan government and transport unions are increasingly concerned about the safety of their drivers amid escalating violence and the lack of adequate protection measures.
The incidents involving missing Moroccan truck drivers underscore the urgent need for enhanced security protocols in regions vulnerable to terrorist activities. Given the recent upsurge in attacks against transport convoys, it is vital for authorities to prioritize the safety of truck drivers operating in these high-risk areas. Ongoing collaboration between Moroccan diplomacy and local African authorities is essential to mitigate these threats and ensure safe passage for transporters in the region.
Original Source: www.straitstimes.com
