Niger Grapples with Devastating Floods as Historic Mosque Collapses

Doha – Niger is currently facing a dire situation as heavy rains since June have wreaked havoc across the country.

The torrential downpours have claimed the lives of 273 people, with 121 reported drowned and 152 killed by collapsing buildings, according to the Sahel country’s interior ministry.

The extreme weather has also impacted over 700,000 people and left an additional 278 injured.

The southeastern Zinder region has been particularly hard-hit by the rainy season, experiencing some of the most severe impacts of the flooding.

In addition to the human toll, the severe downpours have led to the collapse of a historic mosque in Zinder, one of Niger’s most cherished religious sites.

The mosque, built in the mid-19th century and known for its mud construction, was completely destroyed by the recent storm.

Made from banco — a traditional mixture of earth and straw — the mosque was one of Niger’s most visited religious sites, second only to the UNESCO-listed Agadez mosque.

For centuries, it served as a central place of worship, drawing congregants from far and wide for Friday prayers and Muslim festivals.

Local religious leader El Hadj Mansour Kakale lamented the loss, emphasizing the mosque’s historical and spiritual significance to the community, as reported by AFP. 

Officials have noted that despite awareness of structural issues with the mosque, the relentless rains prevented timely intervention.

The wider southeastern Zinder region has been among the hardest-hit by the country’s rainy season, which typically lasts from June to September.

Disaster management and humanitarian action minister Aissa Laouan Wandarama expressed sorrow over the “significant human and material losses,” stating that Niger is “going through an extremely difficult period because of the torrential rains and severe flooding,” according to the same source.  Last year, the rainy season claimed 195 lives in Niger.

Scientists have long warned that climate change driven by fossil fuel emissions is making extreme weather events such as floods more frequent, intense, and longer-lasting.