At least 57 members of the security forces —from the army and the gendarmerie—were killed the day before yesterday, Wednesday, in two attacks attributed to the jihadist group Islamic State in the Sahel (ISIS-S), Niger’s Ministry of Defense announced yesterday, Thursday.
According to the statement, 38 soldiers were killed in the first attack, at the Dabagu base in the Tawa region.
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The area where the attack took place is about 450 kilometers from Niger’s capital, Niamey, and is located near the border with Mali. Several soldiers are still missing.
In a separate attack on the same day in Abala-Filigé, about 250 kilometers from the capital Niamey, 19 gendarmes were killed.
Since seizing power in July 2023, promising to restore security and “national sovereignty,” the ruling generals have struggled to quell the insurgency by jihadist groups.
There is reportedly growing discontent within the army over the heavy casualties sustained in the fight against jihadist groups. This is believed to have been the reason for a mutiny in August, which was, however, quelled within a few hours by the military junta.
Source: APE-MPE
