More than 200 armed militants launched a deadly assault on a Nigerien army base near the Malian border on Thursday, killing at least 34 soldiers and injuring 14 others, according to the country’s defence ministry.
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The attackers, described by officials as “mercenaries,” stormed the base in Banibangou, a town in Niger’s Tillabéri region, using a convoy of eight vehicles and over 200 motorbikes. The coordinated attack marks one of the bloodiest on Niger’s military in recent months.
According to the BBC, the defence ministry in a statement condemned what it called a “cowardly and barbaric” act. It said the army responded forcefully, killing “dozens of terrorists” during the battle and has since launched search operations to pursue the retreating assailants.
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The assault underscores the ongoing security crisis in the Sahel, where Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso continue to battle jihadist groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Banibangou, situated near the tri-border area, has long been a hotspot for militant activity.
Thursday’s attack is likely to intensify scrutiny on Niger’s military leadership, which seized power in a July 2023 coup, citing the previous government’s inability to contain jihadist violence as one of its key justifications. However, nearly two years on, deadly attacks continue unabated.
Since taking power, Niger’s junta has moved away from Western military partnerships. French and American troops, previously central to counter-insurgency operations in the region, have been expelled.
In their place, Niger has pivoted toward closer security cooperation with Russia and Turkey—a shift mirrored by its neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso.
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