Boston University International Programs have officially canceled the Niamey International Development Program in Niger for the spring 2010 semester, officials said Friday.
The decision was made after the U.S. Department of State Travel for Niger issued an alert on Nov. 19 urging U.S. citizens not to travel to Niger in light of kidnappings one year ago, Associate Provost Ben DeWinter said in an email.
“The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the risks of travel to Niger due to threat of kidnapping and recommends against all travel to Niger at this time,” the alert said.
The alert was a response to the kidnapping of two United Nations officials by members of the Al Qaeda in December 2008, according to the alert.
Conditions of insecurity persist throughout northern and western Niger, and conflict zones in northern Niger contain scattered landmines, the alert said.
16 students planned to study in Niger this spring. The International Programs Department began discussing the cancellation after the alert was posted, but the decision was not made until yesterday, the email said.
The program was run in cooperation with Faculté des Lettres et Sciences Humaines de l’Université Abdou Moumouni. It aimed to “combine the study of development, language, and society in the Sahel region of West Africa with individual community service placements that examine Niger’s culture and ongoing development efforts,” according to BU International Programs’ Niamey website.
DeWinter notified the enrolled students of the cancellation by email Friday.
“We know how disappointing this outcome is to you,” the email said. “We are also very disappointed. But the safety and well being of our students must always be our primary concerns.”
The department expects the Niger program will resume in fall 2010.
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