Niger begins three-day national mourning for killed soldiers

Our Reporter October 03, 2023 Africa, Niger,

Niger began three days of national mourning Tuesday after 29 soldiers were killed in a suspected jihadist attack, the deadliest since the military took power in July.

The latest violence comes as the country’s coup leaders indicated they were considering neighbouring Algeria’s offer to mediate talks for a transition back to civilian rule.

Niger is battling two jihadist insurgencies — a spillover in its southeast from a long-running conflict in neighbouring Nigeria, and an offensive in the west by militants crossing from Mali and Burkina Faso.

When military leaders overthrew democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, they cited the deterioration of the security situation in the country as justification.

Monday’s attack in western Niger involved “improvised explosive devices and kamikaze vehicles by more than a hundred terrorists”, the Ministry of Defence said in a televised statement.

It added that two soldiers were seriously wounded and “several dozen terrorists” were also killed.

According to Channel TV, the attack took place northwest of Tabatol near the border with Mali, which is plagued by fighting with militants affiliated with the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda.

Violence in the “three borders” area between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso has fuelled military takeovers in all three countries since 2021.

Algeria, Niger’s influential neighbour, said on Monday that Niamey has accepted its offer to mediate talks on a transition to civilian rule.

Hours later, Niger’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had “indicated the availability of the Nigerien authorities to examine Algeria’s offer of mediation”.