NIAMEY: Thirty-four Nigerien soldiers were killed and 14 others wounded on Thursday in a brutal attack by several hundred armed men near the town of Banibangou, close to Niger’s volatile border with Mali, the country’s defense ministry confirmed.
The ministry described the assault as “cowardly and barbaric,” saying that the attackers arrived in eight vehicles and more than 200 motorbikes. The armed fighters, described as mercenaries, ambushed military forces stationed in the western region near the Mali-Burkina Faso-Niger border triangle—a hotspot for jihadist activity.
In response, Nigerien forces reportedly killed dozens of the assailants. Reinforcements were immediately deployed to the area, and search operations by air and land are ongoing to track down those responsible.
The region has seen a sharp escalation in violence, fueled by armed groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Niger’s western and southeastern flanks remain under persistent threat, with the southeast also confronting Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province.
Since a military coup in 2023, Niger has expelled both French and U.S. forces, choosing to handle its growing security challenges independently. The military-led government is facing increasing difficulty containing the insurgency, particularly in remote areas like Banibangou.
