Agadez (Niger), Mohamed lives in his shop. The city is a hub for West African migrants headed to Italy. "Azalai," Mohamed's travel agency for desert excursions, also recalls the ancient camel caravans that used to cross the Sahara from the salt mines, to load salt onto ships with slaves. Now these roads are trod by illegal migrants. A slogan sums up the hopes of a people returning to elections after years of guerrilla warfare over uranium. Mohamed did not join the guerrillas; today he is a middleman for migrants and truck drivers offering transport.
Agadez, Niger – Mohamed, nicknamed Danger, lives and works in his shop. We are in the mythical capital of the Touaregs, a hub for West African migrants headed to Italy. "Azalai" is the travel agency through which Danger used to accompany tourists in the desert, but it is also the name of the ancient camel caravans that used to cross the Sahara from the salt mines, to load it onto boats headed to Europe and the Americas with slaves. Now these roads are trod by modern slaves, clandestine migrants headed to Italy. "Pour la paix, l'union et le progrès", “For peace, unity and progress†sums up the hopes of a people returning to elections after years of guerrilla warfare. It is January 2010, the war over uranium has isolated Agadez from the rest of the world and Mohamed, who did not join the guerrillas, today is a middleman for migrants and truck drivers offering transport, the so-called “passeursâ€.
A painting, some postcards, family photos and the beautiful necklaces tell of a great past that has now disappeared.
When this photograph was taken, journalists and photographers were banned from the region and subject to arrest.