A tragic incident unfolded on Tuesday as seventeen Niger soldiers lost their lives in an assault believed to be orchestrated by suspected jihadists near the western border with Mali.
The defense ministry conveyed that an army detachment fell victim to a terrorist ambush in the vicinity of Koutougou, a somber event detailed in a statement released late on Tuesday.
Tragically, an additional twenty soldiers suffered injuries, six of whom are in critical condition, with all the casualties promptly transported to the capital city of Niamey.
During their retreat, over 100 assailants were reportedly subdued by the responding military forces.
The region of Africa’s Sahel has grappled with a jihadist insurgency for over a decade, initially originating in northern Mali in 2012 before spreading to neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso in 2015.
The “three borders” region, where the countries intersect, has become a recurring hotspot for attacks carried out by rebel factions affiliated with the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda.
This pervasive unrest has led to a devastating toll, resulting in the loss of numerous soldiers, police personnel, and innocent civilians, compelling millions to abandon their homes in search of safety.
The profound anguish provoked by the ongoing bloodshed has been a catalyst for military takeovers across all three countries since 2020.
Most recently, on July 26, Niger experienced a coup, resulting in the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum from power.
Additionally, Niger is contending with a jihadist insurgency in its southeastern region, stemming from militants who traverse from northeastern Nigeria—a conflict traceable back to the inception of Boko Haram’s campaign in 2010.
(Source: AFP)
