Niger continued to face a volatile and complex situation, shaped by persistent cross-border insecurity and evolving tactics of armed groups, particularly Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad (JAS), Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP), JNIM, and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) which remain most active in the largest part of Niger regions located in the Liptako-Gourma and have increasingly used explosive ordnance, resulting in child casualties and restriction of humanitarian access. The humanitarian situation is critical, with more than 450,000 Internally displaced persons, half of whom are children exposed to multiple protection risks including recruitment and use.

• Welcome the handover of 49 children, through the Handover Protocol.
• Concern regarding the significant increase in all grave violations and call upon all armed groups to immediately cease the recruitment and use of children, release and hand them over to child protection actors.