DAKAR, Senegal — A recent ambush by a band of criminals resulted in the deaths of at least 10 soldiers from Niger near the border with Burkina Faso, as reported by Niger’s military government.
On Monday, an intervention unit was dispatched to the western region of Niger to address incidents of cattle theft in a village named Takzat. The military declared that during this operation, the internal security forces were attacked by a group of criminals, leading to the tragic loss of 10 soldiers. The statement did not provide additional details regarding the identity of the attackers.
Although the attackers managed to escape, the military succeeded in capturing and neutralizing 15 individuals described as “terrorists” on Tuesday, according to the statement.
For over ten years, Niger, alongside Burkina Faso and Mali, has been engaged in a struggle against insurgencies driven by jihadist groups, some of which have links to al-Qaida and the Islamic State. In light of recent military coups in these three countries, the juntas have sought to expel French military forces and have turned towards Russian mercenary groups for security support. They have also expressed their commitment to enhancing regional cooperation by forming a new security alliance known as the Alliance of Sahel States.
Despite these efforts, analysts express concern that the security conditions in the Sahel—a vast area bordering the Sahara Desert—have deteriorated significantly since the juntas took control. This has resulted in an unprecedented number of attacks and civilian casualties caused both by militant groups and government forces.
Last December, a similar incident claimed the lives of 10 soldiers and left seven others injured in an attack near the Niger-Burkina Faso border, according to military reports. Furthermore, the same month saw militants linked to an Islamic State affiliate likely execute 21 bus passengers in the village of Arboudji, also close to the border with Burkina Faso, as stated by the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data.
