On the Border

For centuries, the desert city of Agadez has been a hub for trade routes, migration, and Tuareg culture. However, as part of an EU initiative, the Nigerian government passes a law that criminalizes migration overnight. Thousands of people are losing their livelihoods. Public discontent leads to uprisings and culminates in a military coup. When Russia appoints itself as the new security partner, the dream of greater self-determination comes to an abrupt end. Three residents of the city recount how their homeland became a pawn in geopolitical interests.