Minister Mohamed Toumba faces allegations in visa trafficking scheme
The Interior Minister of Niger, General Mohamed Toumba, a prominent figure within the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP) since the July 26, 2023 coup, now finds himself entangled in a serious allegation of illicit visa trading. The scandal centers on the alleged involvement of his wife in a clandestine network facilitating travel documents from West Africa to Europe.
A covert operation targeting the Schengen zone
The operation, which remained concealed within diplomatic and security circles in Niamey, has implicated the Spanish Embassy in Niger. The minister’s spouse, who previously served at the embassy, stands accused of orchestrating a lucrative scheme to issue Schengen visas without proper oversight.
The dismantled network operated through the following channels:
- Pricing structure: Applicants paid between 2 and 5 million West African CFA francs (approximately €3,048 to €7,622) per visa.
- Operational method: Prospective travelers bypassed consular requirements entirely, completing all procedures remotely.
- Targeted demographic: The system primarily attracted Malian nationals. These individuals circumvented Niger’s mandatory residency permit requirement—normally obligatory for those passing through Niamey en route to Spain—thanks to fraudulent exemptions facilitated by the network.
Initial findings suggest nearly 1,500 Malians may have secured passage to Europe through this illicit route.
Financial trails and strategic arrests
Investigations led by the General Directorate of Documentation and External Security (DGDSE), under the leadership of Lieutenant-Colonel Souleymane Balla-Arabé, uncovered suspicious financial transactions intended to launder proceeds, with funds reportedly channeled toward Senegal.
Key figures have been apprehended in connection with the case:
- Maty Cissokho Toumba, the minister’s wife, was questioned by investigators.
- Samsoudine Idrissa, identified as the network’s logistics coordinator and a close associate of General Toumba, was detained by the DGDSE shortly after leaving the minister’s home.
- A third suspect, recruited by the minister’s wife shortly before her departure from the Spanish Embassy a year prior, is also under scrutiny.
Government instability exposed by internal divisions
The investigation, spearheaded by intelligence services rather than conventional judicial authorities, has intensified existing tensions within the military-led transitional government. The scandal further strains relations among the junta’s leadership, particularly as the transitional President, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, increasingly favors members of his own Haoussa community over officials from the Zarma ethnic group.
This affair places significant pressure on high-ranking Zarma officials, including General Toumba—currently the junta’s third-ranking member—and General Salifou Modi, the respected Minister of Defense, whose reputation within the armed forces has faced growing challenges.
