Greater than 200 gunmen on motorbikes have attacked a Niger military base close to the border with Mali, leaving a minimum of 34 squaddies lifeless, the rustic’s defence ministry mentioned.
The attackers – described through the ministry as “mercenaries” – raided the bottom within the western the city of Banibangou on Thursday, injuring 14 different squaddies.
The ministry mentioned that its forces killed “dozens of terrorists” within the struggle.
Niger’s army is below force for failing to curb militant assaults, certainly one of its justifications for deposing democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum in 2023.
“This Thursday, June 19, a cowardly and barbaric assault was once performed towards [the town of] Banibangou through a horde of a number of hundred mercenaries aboard 8 automobiles and greater than 200 motorbikes,” the ministry mentioned in a commentary learn out on state TV.
It added that the troops had been undertaking seek operations in Banibangou to trace down the attackers.
The city, which lies on the subject of the three-way border between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, is vulnerable to jihadist assaults from Islamist teams.
Niger’s ruling junta has expelled French and US forces that were closely concerned within the combat towards jihadists.
West African neighbours Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali are going through an insurgency from other jihadist teams which function around the Sahel area.
The 3 international locations have shaped an alliance to combat the jihadists and scaled again ties with the West, turning to Russia and Turkey as a substitute for his or her safety wishes.
However the violence has persevered.
