29 Niger Soldiers Killed In Attacks Near Borders While Holding Military Operations

Illustration of Niger soldiers. (Wikimedia Commons/US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Michael Larson)

Twenty-nine soldiers were killed in western Niger in an attack allegedly carried out by extremist groups, the Defense Ministry said late Monday.

The attack took place near the border with Mali, during a military operation aimed at "tralimizing threats" posed by ISIS in the region.

According to the ministry, the attack was carried out using "a homemade explosive device and kamikaze vehicle by more than a hundred terrorists," as reported by The National News, October 3.

In addition, two soldiers were seriously injured, while several dozen terrorists were reported killed. Authorities announced a three-day national mourning period for the soldiers.

"Communications of the terrorists, who were forced to withdraw, have been tapped," the ministry said.

It said the attackers "got the advantage of foreign expertise".

It is known that extremist insurgency has plagued the Sahel region of Africa for more than a decade, with its first breaking in northern Mali in 2012 before spreading to neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso in 2015.

The "three borders" between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso are often places of militant attacks affiliated with ISIS and Al Qaeda.

The violence has sparked a military takeover in the three countries, with Niger last experiencing a coup on July 26, causing Mohamed Bazoum, the democratically elected president, to roll out of office.

Earlier, twelve Niger soldiers were killed last week when their convoy was attacked by militants near the city of Kand