Four Moroccan truck drivers went missing on Saturday while traversing the volatile border area between Burkina Faso and Niger, according to a source from the Moroccan embassy in Burkina Faso and Morocco’s transport union. The disappearance occurred in a region notorious for jihadist activity, exacerbating concerns about the safety of trade routes in the Sahel.
The trucks, one of which carried a spare driver, were traveling without a security escort from Dori in Burkina Faso to Tera in Niger. This border zone has been a hotspot for Islamist militant groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, whose insurgencies have destabilized West Africa’s Sahel region for over a decade.
The Moroccan embassy is collaborating with Burkina Faso’s authorities to locate the drivers. A diplomatic source highlighted the ongoing efforts, stating that security convoys are typically organized by Burkina Faso authorities to escort trucks through high-risk zones. However, the trucks had reportedly waited for a week without receiving an escort before deciding to proceed.
Echarki El Hachmi, Secretary General of Morocco’s transporters’ union, emphasized the urgency of the situation. “The drivers had no choice but to continue after such a long delay,” he said, pointing out the growing number of Moroccan trucks navigating dangerous routes across the Sahel.
The trucks, loaded with infrastructure equipment, had departed from Casablanca weeks ago, en route to Niger. This incident underscores the persistent risks associated with transporting goods in conflict zones where militant attacks are frequent.
El Hachmi called for enhanced protection measures for truck drivers and their vehicles in these high-risk regions. He noted a previous incident earlier this month when a convoy of Moroccan trucks came under attack near the Malian border with Mauritania. While there were no casualties in that attack, it highlighted the vulnerability of transporters operating in the Sahel.
The governments of Burkina Faso and Niger, both led by military juntas, continue to struggle against insurgencies that have displaced millions and disrupted regional trade. The Sahel remains one of the world’s most unstable regions, with militant groups targeting civilians, infrastructure, and transport routes to exert control.
As the search for the missing drivers intensifies, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of insecurity in the Sahel and the urgent need for coordinated efforts to safeguard regional trade and transport.
