Tillabéri Region, Niger: Concerning Cycle of Atrocities

Tillabéri region of Niger is witnessing unprecedented level of ethnic-based violence. The January 2 massacre caught the national and international actors’ attention, however; the event was preventable. Accessing communities through ethnically charged and other exploitative language has proved to be a game changer for the expansion of violent extremist organizations (VEOs) expansion since 2012. The failure of national and international actors to recognize the seriousness of the situation and to react by seeking to ease tensions, to resolve disputes, to protect civilians, and to hold individuals engaging in violence accountable, allowed this tragic event to occur.