Four Moroccan Drivers Missing in Burkina-Niger Border

Four Moroccan truck drivers went missing on January 18, 2025, while traveling without an escort in the dangerous border region between Burkina Faso and Niger. The trucks were en route from Dori, Burkina Faso, to Tera, Niger, an area notorious for jihadist activity linked to groups such as al Qaeda and Islamic State. The Moroccan embassy in Burkina Faso is working closely with local authorities to locate the missing drivers, who disappeared after waiting a week for security escort before proceeding. The General Union of Transport Professionals has called for increased security measures, emphasizing the risks faced by drivers in these high-risk areas. Recent attacks in the region underline the escalating danger to international transport operations. This incident reflects ongoing threats in the Sahel, where extremist groups continue to destabilize the region.