A devastating attack on a Niger army base near the border with Mali has left at least 34 soldiers dead and 14 others injured.
The attackers, described as “mercenaries” by the defence ministry, stormed the base in the western town of Banibangou on Thursday, riding over 200 motorbikes.
The ministry said its forces killed “dozens of terrorists” in the battle and are currently conducting search operations to track down the attackers.
The incident highlights the ongoing struggle of Niger’s military to contain the jihadist insurgency, which has been a major challenge for the country since the coup that deposed President Mohamed Bazoum in 2023.
The region has been plagued by jihadist attacks, and the ruling junta has expelled French and US forces that had been involved in the fight against jihadists.
Niger, along with its West African neighbours Burkina Faso and Mali, is part of an alliance fighting jihadists, but the violence continues.
