Paper short abstract:

This paper explains auto-managed networks and self-help systems created by youths in Niger and how this contributes to resilience.

Paper long abstract:

Niger, a country enclaved in the middle of the Sahel, surrounded by conflict ridden countries such as Libya, Mali and Nigeria has so far been described as the secure hub in an all else security tormented region. Niger's population is not only rapidly growing and majoritarian male, but it also has a very young population. School enrolment rates are very low with unemployment rates being overly high. One has to ask: where does the resilience come from? Since 2013 the country is heavily affected by neighboring Nigeria's insurgency of the radical extremist group Boko Haram. In late 2014 recruitment among the local population by the group has been confirmed for Diffa region, situated in the east of Niger, sharing the southern border with Nigeria. There is not much, it seems, for Niger's youth, and yet despite the current severe challenges the country is facing, it is holding it together. This is not least due to the many associative structures that have emerged in recent years among young Nigeriens starting to organize themselves. Those different structures have been able to create auto-managed networks and self-help systems where the state is notably absent. This article focuses on these very mechanisms of 'self-security' developed by Nigerien youth. Data is collected using semi-structured interviews conducted in Niamey and Agadez among youth of five different organizations exploring the factors for Niger's resilience.