At least 22 people, including 17 soldiers, have been killed after two buses collided in southern Niger, the country’s Transport Ministry said on Saturday.
The fatal accident occurred on Friday night, about 50 kilometres from the town of Madaoua, when the two buses were involved in a head-on collision.
According to the ministry, another 37 people sustained injuries in the crash.
Niger’s official news agency, ANP, reported earlier that one of the buses was carrying soldiers. Authorities have since launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
The crash comes as Niger continues efforts to raise public awareness about road safety and the dangers of traffic accidents, which are common across the vast West African country.
Figures from the Nigerien Agency for Road Safety show that more than 7,000 road accidents were recorded in the country in 2025, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and more than 4,400 serious injuries.
Speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, poor road conditions and badly maintained vehicles are among the major factors blamed for road accidents in Niger.
