Greater than 200 gunmen on motorbikes have attacked a Niger military base close to the border with Mali, leaving not less than 34 troopers lifeless, the nation’s defence ministry mentioned.
The attackers – described by the ministry as “mercenaries” – raided the bottom within the western city of Banibangou on Thursday, injuring 14 different troopers.
The ministry mentioned that its forces killed “dozens of terrorists” within the battle.
Niger’s army is beneath stress for failing to curb militant assaults, one among its justifications for deposing democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum in 2023.
“This Thursday, June 19, a cowardly and barbaric assault was carried out in opposition to [the town of] Banibangou by a horde of a number of hundred mercenaries aboard eight automobiles and greater than 200 motorbikes,” the ministry mentioned in a press release learn out on state TV.
It added that the troops had been conducting search operations in Banibangou to trace down the attackers.
The city, which lies near the three-way border between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, is susceptible to jihadist assaults from Islamist teams.
Niger’s ruling junta has expelled French and US forces that had been closely concerned within the combat in opposition to jihadists.
West African neighbours Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali are going through an insurgency from completely different jihadist teams which function throughout the Sahel area.
The three nations have shaped an alliance to combat the jihadists and scaled again ties with the West, turning to Russia and Turkey as an alternative for his or her safety wants.
However the violence has continued.
