NIAMEY: Suspected armed militants have launched a deadly attack, killing 12 soldiers in Niger’s remote southwest, according to state television reports on Tuesday. This incident marks the latest violent event since army officers seized power in a coup last month.
The attack occurred during an anti-militant operation conducted by national guards on Sunday evening in the Anzourou locality of the Tillaberi region, as reported by Tele Sahel. The militants ambushed the troops, leading to a confrontation in which heavy losses were inflicted upon the attackers.
The slain soldiers have already been laid to rest in a ceremony attended by Lieutenant-Colonel Maina Boucar, the military governor of the province, as stated in the report.
This incident follows the killing of at least 17 soldiers on August 15 near the town of Koutougou, also in the Tillaberi region. The authorities have revealed that 20 other soldiers were wounded during that attack, and over 100 assailants were “neutralized” while retreating on motorbikes.
ECOWAS Warns of Using Force in Niger
The West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, has warned of the possibility of using force to reinstate Niger’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, who was detained during the coup on July 26. The African Union has suspended Niger until civilian rule is restored, highlighting the ongoing concerns over security and stability.
Niger’s recent coup was justified by its new leaders as a response to perceived security deterioration under former President Bazoum. The ongoing insurgency has plagued the Sahel region for more than a decade, originating in northern Mali in 2012 and subsequently spreading to Niger and Burkina Faso.
Despite the ongoing security challenges, an independent monitor has reported a decrease in attacks within Niger during the first half of 2023. Civilians have seen a 49 percent reduction in attacks and a 16 percent decrease in casualties compared to the same period in the previous year, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) project.
