Niger River's ancient 'water men' under threat as silt piles up

Niamey, Niger (AFP) Mar 14, 2024

Once again, the catch was meagre: two tiny fish escaped the nets and dropped into Ali Sani's canoe as he drifted down the murky waters of the mighty Niger River. At nightfall, the Nigerien fisherman will try his luck again until dawn in the hope of catching a "gari" or a plump "salambale", two local delicacies. Time is of the essence for Sani because once the hot season arrives, the rive