Politics Dozens of soldiers killed in Niger in attack by Islamists

Islamist terrorists in the West African country of Niger have carried out one of the deadliest attacks on the military in years. After the attack in the border region with Mali and Burkina Faso on Tuesday morning, 47 bodies of Nigerien soldiers were found, military and local sources confirmed to the German Press Agency in Niamey on Wednesday. In addition, 18 people were reported injured, 11 of them seriously. Several soldiers were also missing.

Niger's military government had initially spoken of 21 dead on state television. According to the report, heavily armed fighters on motorcycles and in armored vehicles attacked the outpost near Gothèye, around 80 kilometers from the capital Niamey.

Islamist terrorist groups are active in the border triangle between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, one of the most dangerous regions in the world, and have pledged allegiance to terrorist militias such as al-Qaeda and Islamic State. According to the conflict data organization Acled, at least 1149 people were killed in the course of political violence in Niger in 2023, more than a third of them civilians. By the end of May this year, at least 710 people had already been killed.

Until a military coup in Niger in July 2023, international partners, including France and the USA in particular, helped the Nigerians to fight terror. The German Armed Forces were also involved in training security forces in Niger. Like Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger is now increasingly turning away from former partners, in particular the ex-colonial power France, and towards Russia, among others.