Rhoumour Ahmet Tchilouta
About

About

Rhoumour Ahmet Tchilouta, PhD

Biography

Rhoumour Ahmet Tchilouta, a Political Geographer and Consultant originally from Agadez, Niger, holds a dual Ph.D. in Geography from Grenoble Alpes University (France) and Abdou Moumouni University (Niger). His current role as a Research Fellow involves participating in a collaborative project led by Border Forensics (BF) and LIMINAL Lab at the University of Bologna (Italy), under the Horizon Europe-ERC program HEMIG: Hostile Environments – The Political Ecology of Migration and Border Violence. Dr. Ahmet Tchilouta is also an Associate Researcher at the PACTE Research Center (UMR-5194) at Grenoble Alpes University, where he continues to engage in interdisciplinary research on migration, border politics, and regional dynamics within the Saharo-Sahelian context.
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Languages

French

Bilingual

English

Advanced

Tamasheq

Bilingual

Hausa

Bilingual

Zarma

Intermediate

Research Focus

Dr. Ahmet Tchilouta’s research focuses on the socio-political and geopolitical dynamics of the Sahel region, particularly Niger. His research investigates migration and border management challenges within the framework of Niger-European Union cooperation, assessing their impact on Niger’s sovereignty. Additionally, he explores the socio-political and security consequences of artisanal gold mining in the Sahara, along with the wider socio-political issues, including national and transnational organized crime, such as human trafficking and smuggling, in the region.

Medias

His work has been recognized by various media outlets, including The New York Times, Politiken, Trouw, and Zeit Online, highlighting the relevance of his research to contemporary geopolitical and socio-political issues in the Sahara- Sahel region.

Media coverage

Academic Credentials & Foundations

Dr. Ahmet Tchilouta is an experienced researcher with a multidisciplinary academic background in geography, sociology, urban planning and business administration.

Grenoble Alpes University & Abdou Moumouni University

PhD in Political Geography from the University of Grenoble Alpes & the Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey

Specializations: Geopolitics, Political Geography, Border Studies, Migration Studies
Doctorate prepared in international cotutelle between the University of Grenoble Alpes, France, and the Abdou Moumouni University, Niger.
Thesis title : « De l’autre côté de la frontière » : souveraineté, gestion des frontières et évolution de la géopolitique du Niger face à l’externalisation des politiques migratoires de l’Europe dans la région saharo-sahélienne.
Grenoble, France & Niamey, Niger, 2023

Grenoble Alpes University

Master of Social Sciences

Major: Sociology of Innovation and Social Reconfiguration
Obtained with honours
Grenoble, France, 2019

Institute of Urban Planning and Alpine Geography

Master of Geography, Planning, Environment, Development

Major: Innovation and Territory – Creativity and Public Policy Design
Obtained with first-class honours
Grenoble, France, 2017

Institut de Management et d’Études Supérieures en Gestion – Groupe SODESI

Master of Business of Administration – MBA

Major : Project Management
Obtained with first-class honours
Niamey, Niger, 2014

Abdou Moumouni University

Bachelor’s degree in Geography

Major : Regional Geography
Obtained with honours
Niamey, Niger, 2013

Professional Milestones & Achievements

Dr. Ahmet Tchilouta’s latest journey spans significant academic and professional achievements, turning challenges into opportunities. His collaborations have marked milestones, demonstrating a commitment to bridging theory and practice.

Border Forensics (BF) & LIMINAL LAB, University of Bologna

Research Fellow

As a Research Fellow with Border Forensics and LIMINAL Lab (University of Bologna), I lead the research project Mapping Hostile Terrains: Resource Extraction, Deportation, and the (Im-)Mobility of Artisanal Gold Miners in the Niger-Algeria Borderlands. This project is part of the larger HEMIG: Hostile Environments – The Political Ecology of Migration and Border Violence, a Horizon Europe-ERC research program directed by LIMINAL Lab. My research examines the complex interconnections between artisanal mining, forced migration, and border militarization along the Niger-Algeria border, focusing on the ecological and political impacts of these dynamics within the region’s borderlands.

Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime [GI-TOC]

Civil Society Mapping & Migration Research Specialist

Mapping of civil society organizations (CSOs) in Niger with a focus on addressing irregular migration, human smuggling, and trafficking. My responsibilities included conducting comprehensive context analyses, identifying high-risk « hotspots, » and profiling CSOs by assessing their strengths, thematic focus, and collaborative capacities. Facilitated partnerships between GI-TOC and in-country CSOs, delivering critical insights to support the Resilience Fund’s engagement with local actors. This work contributes to strengthening community resilience, promoting human rights, and enhancing responses to organized crime in migration-related contexts

Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime [GI-TOC]

Consultant – Illicit Hub Mapping Project

Conducted comprehensive mapping of critical illicit economy hubs in Niger in the framework of Illicit Hub Mapping Project, a flagship product of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime’s latest regional observatory, the Observatory of Illicit Economies in West Africa, using advanced methodologies to analyze their impact on regional stability. This work included applying specialized criteria and utilizing the Illicit Economies and Instability Monitor (IEIM) to identify and assess risk factors associated with organized crime and instability.

PACTE Research Centre – Grenoble Alpes University

Associate researcher

Researcher in the Social Justice Team of the Mixed Research Unit (UMR-PACTE) specialized in Social Sciences, associated with the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), the University of Grenoble Alpes and the School of Political Studies (Sciences Po Grenoble).

Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD)

Expert – Plateforme d’Analyse, de Suivi et d’Apprentissage au Sahel

Prepared a policy brief for the Institute for Development Research (IRD), the French Development Agency (AFD) and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office on the capitalisation of artisanal gold mining in the Sahel, analysing its socio-economic potential, regulatory effectiveness and challenges, including environmental and security risks, in the former G5 Sahel countries and Senegal.

Border Forensics [BF]

Lead Researcher

Analyzing how migration policies shape violence in the Sahara, using advanced spatial analysis techniques to offer new insights and solutions. Challenging conventional perspectives on border violence to promote mobility justice and the dignity of migrants

Sahel Research Group – University of Florida

Visiting Scholar

Three-month international mobility fellowship at the University of Florida within the Sahel Research Group, funded by the University of Grenoble Alpes’ Initiative for Excellence (IDEX). A rich and immersive experience in the socio-political dynamics of the Sahel region.

Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime [GI-TOC]

Consultant – Labour-trafficking in ASGM

As a consultant for the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime on the « Organized Crime: West African Response to Trafficking (OCWAR-T) » project, I conducted a risk assessment mission on labor exploitation and trafficking in the artisanal gold mining sites of northern Niger. This involved an in-depth analysis of recruitment and employment practices on these sites, with a focus on the risks these practices pose to gold miners.
Additionally, I examined the structural factors contributing to the vulnerability of miners, identifying key points where exploitation risks may arise. This detailed assessment aimed to provide insights into the complex labor dynamics within the artisanal gold mining sector and to inform strategies for mitigating associated risks and vulnerabilities.

Statewatch

Migration Policy Consultant

As a consultant for Statewatch, my role involved conducting a critical assessment of the implementation of the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum in Niger, a framework intended to shape the EU’s migration and asylum policy and its reform in the coming years. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness and implications of this strategy in managing migrants and refugees while assessing the transparency, accountability, and overall legitimacy of the EU’s externalization program in this context.

Transnational Institute [TNI]

Researcher & Fieldwork Coordinator

As a researcher for the Transnational Institute (TNI), responsibilities included coordinating and conducting an in-depth field study in Niger as part of the « Frontex in West Africa: Niger and Mali » research project. This initiative, a collaboration between the Transnational Institute, Statewatch, and Radboud University, aimed to examine the role and impact of Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, in West Africa, with a particular focus on Niger and Mali. The role involved leading field research activities, collecting data, engaging with local stakeholders, and synthesizing findings to understand Frontex’s influence and operations in this critical West African context.

PACTE Research Centre – Grenoble Alpes University

PhD Researcher

Wrote a joint doctoral thesis for the degree of Doctor at Grenoble Alpes University (France) and Doctor of Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey (Niger).
Dissertation Title: « De l’autre côté de la frontière » : souveraineté, gestion des frontières et évolution de la géopolitique du Niger face à l’externalisation des politiques migratoires de l’Europe dans la région saharo-sahélienne
This geopolitical analysis (integrating Border Studies and Migration Studies) investigates Niger’s migration landscape in the aftermath of the 2015 “migration crisis.” The study examines the impact of European externalized migration policies on Niger’s national border management strategies and, more broadly, on the country’s sovereignty within an internationalized migration governance context.

Open Diplomacy Institute

Junior Fellow

Contributed to the development of publications, analyses, and reports enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration. Actively participated in editorial conferences and project groups, promoting public engagement in international policy discussions.

Scholarly Contributions & Insights

Dr. Ahmet Tchilouta’s scientific contributions include peer-reviewed articles, research reports, and dissertations in various fields. For more details, please visit his profiles at Google Scholar and HAL

Peer-reviewed articles

Peer-reviewed Article
Rhoumour Ahmet Tchilouta, Les stratégies de gestion des frontières du Niger à l’ère de l’externalisation des politiques migratoires de l’UE : vers des frontières itinérantes ?, L’Espace Politique [En ligne], 46 | 2022-1

This article examines Niger’s border management practices following the 2015 Euro-African Summit in La Valletta, revealing that the externalization of European borders in the Sahel-Sahara region is not merely a transfer of strategies or technologies from North to South, but rather a profound transformation of Niger’s borders in both their forms and functions.

Peer-reviewed Article
Laurent Gagnol, Rhoumour Ahmet Tchilouta et Abdoulkader Afane, Enjeux territoriaux et éthiques de la régulation de la ruée vers l’or au nord du Niger, Revue internationale des études du développement, 249 | 2022, 173-196.

This article examines the current evolution of the gold rush in northern Niger, focusing on the state’s efforts to legally regulate formerly informal mining activities in peripheral regions, which leads to territorial reconfigurations, closer ties between local elite and central power, ethical conflicts over resource access and profit distribution, and shifts in miners’ status towards either regularization, precarity, or criminalization, underpinned by land appropriation and mobility issues.

Peer-reviewed Article
Gagnol, Laurent, et Rhoumour Ahmet Tchilouta. L’orpaillage au Sahara : un défi pour la stabilité des États, Politique étrangère, vol. , no. 4, 2021, pp. 187-200.

In 2009, a gold rush began in Sudan and spread across the Sahara, reaching Mauritania by 2016. Initially perceived as a threat potentially fueling conflicts and terrorism, a more positive view later emerged, with the mining of this valuable mineral offering new prospects to marginalized populations. Gold has become a source of income and also serves as a political and social safety valve in these unstable regions.

Publication and/or participation in reports

Policy Brief
Capitalization study on gold mining in the (former) G5 Sahel countries and Senegal – Analytical Review. Plateforme d’Analyse du Suivi et d’Apprentissage au Sahel, Production Pasas. Published on March 10, 2024 (French & English)

This policy brief explores the issues of artisanal gold mining in the Sahara-Sahel, with a particular focus on the Liptako-Gourma region. It discusses the sector’s potential for socio-economic growth and the opportunities it offers, as well as the challenges it faces. The brief highlights the need for improved governance and concerted efforts to transform artisanal gold mining into a catalyst for sustainable development and stability.

Research Report
Mission Accomplished? The Deadly Effects Of Border Control In Niger. Border Forensics, Published on May 8th, 2023 (French & English)

The report by Border Forensics, critically analyzes the impact of Law 2015-36 on migration and border control in Niger, focusing on its exacerbation of dangerous conditions for migrants in the Sahara-Sahel region, and employs innovative geo-spatial and remote sensing methodologies to empirically assess these effects.

Research Report
Labour-trafficking in ASGM: Assessing risks in the Sahara-Sahel goldfields. Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), June 21 2023 (French, English & Portuguese)

The report by the Global Initiative assesses risks of exploitation and labor trafficking in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in the Sahara-Sahel region, focusing on structural factors and recruitment modalities that contribute to miners’ vulnerability.

Research Report
Access denied: Secrecy and the externalization of EU migration control. Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union & Statewatch, December, 2022

The report by Heinrich Böll Stiftung and Statewatch examines the EU’s policy of externalizing border controls to non-EU states, focusing on transparency, accountability, and legitimacy issues, and presents case studies on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Morocco, and Niger based on freedom of information requests

Dissertations

PhD Dissertation
« De l’autre côté de la frontière » : souveraineté, gestion des frontières et évolution de la géopolitique du Niger face à l’externalisation des politiques migratoires de l’Europe dans la région saharo-sahélienne. Doctorat, Géographie, Université Grenoble Alpes. 2023.

This PhD thesis offers a critical analysis of the geopolitical transformations of Niger since 2015. The research delves into the mechanisms of the process of externalization of Europe migration policies and its internalization in Niger, examining Europe’s influence through funds, norms, and values on Niger’s border management policies. It questions how this external projection affects Niger’s autonomy in migration and border policy decisions, and its implications at national, regional, and local levels.

Master Dissertation
Les voix inaudibles : La construction institutionnelle de l’invisibilité sociale dans les politiques publiques françaises. Mémoire de Master, Sociologie, Université Grenoble Alpes. 2019

This Master thesis delve into the intricacies of how institutional frameworks contribute to the invisibility of certain social groups within public policies in France. This research provided insights into the nuanced ways in which social structures and public institutions interact, leading to the marginalization of certain voices and narratives within the socio-political landscape.

Master Dissertation
Les politiques d’accueil et d’habitat des Gens du voyage ou la fabrique d’une population problématique ? Une analyse à partir du cas du département de l’Aveyron (France). Géographie. 2017

This Master thesis critically analyze how public policies contribute to the construction of societal challenges and perceptions, particularly concerning marginalized communities such as les Gens du voyage or Travellers. The thesis combined qualitative research methodologies with a geographical analysis to provide a nuanced understanding of the implications of public policies on specific demographic groups.

Workshops and international conferences

Dr. Ahmet Tchilouta regularly participates in international academic and professional forums. Below is a curated list of international conferences, seminars and workshops Dr. Ahmet Tchilouta has participated in.

21 – 22 June 2023 / Workshop

Research Launch and Workshop on the Formalization of the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) Sector: Learning from Regional Innovation & Exploring Land and Mining Rights

Research Launch and Workshop on the Formalization of the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) Sector: Learning from Regional Innovation & Exploring Land and Mining Rights, ECOWAS Commission, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GITOC) and The Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), 21 June – 22 June 2023, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

17 April 2023 / Conference

2nd Annual SRG/International Crisis Group Symposium on the Sahel

Environmental Challenges and Conflict Dynamics in the Saharan Gold Rush: Insights from Northern Niger, 2nd Annual SRG/International Crisis Group Symposium on the Sahel, Sahel Research Group & International Crisis Group, 17 April 2023, Gainesville, Florida, United-States.

27 – 28 February 2023 / Conference

Transnational Conference on Criminalization of Migration

Remote Sensing and Geospatial method to Investigate the Effects of the Criminalization of Migrants Transport in Northern Niger, Transnational Conference on Criminalization of Migration, 27 & 28 February 2023, Niamey, Niger.

29 November- 1 December 2022 / Workshop

Expert Meeting on West African Response to trafficking (OCWAR–T) Research Projects and Organized Crime and Resilience Framework (OCRF) Consultation

Expert Meeting on West African Response to trafficking (OCWAR–T) Research Projects and Organized Crime and Resilience Framework (OCRF) Consultation organized by the ECOWAS Commission, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GITOC) and The Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), 29 November- 1 December 2022, Lagos, Nigeria.

October 1, 2 & 3, 2022 / Conference

33ème édition du Festival International de la Géographie (FIG)

Le désert vu du ciel : ce que les images satellites nous montrent des mutations en cours au Sahara. 33ème édition du Festival International de la Géographie (FIG). Association pour le Développement du Festival International de Géographie. 1er, 2 et 3 octobre 2022, Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, France.

April 6, 2022 / Workshop

Séminaire, les mercredis de l’Afrique, Centre d’Analyse, de Prévision et de Stratégie (CAPS)

Orpaillage et l’extraction aurifère au Sahara : un défi pour la stabilité des États. Séminaire « les mercredis de l’Afrique » du Centre d’Analyse, de Prévision et de Stratégie (CAPS) du Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires Etrangères français, Paris, France.

June 07-11, 2021 / Conference

VAD Conference – Africa Challenge

EU Border Externalization : The Confusing Role of certain International Organization in the Niger’s Bordering Process. Africa Challenge, African Studies Association in Germany (VAD e.V.); Centre for Interdisciplinary African Studies (ZIAF), Goethe-University, Jun 2021, Online, Germany.

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Connect with Dr. Ahmet Tchilouta

If you’re looking to collaborate, learn more, or engage in discussions on critical socio-political and geopolitical issues related to migration and border management policies, artisanal gold mining, and organized crime, including human trafficking and smuggling, Dr. Ahmet Tchilouta invites you to reach out. Whether for academic collaboration, policy consultation, or research inquiries, we appreciate your interest in contributing to a deeper understanding and resolution of these challenges. Contact Dr. Ahmet Tchilouta using the contact form below to initiate a meaningful exchange of ideas.

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