Niger Declares Mourning After Soldier's Death
The government of Niger has declared three (3) days of mourning after suspected armed men attacked her soldiers. At least 29 (twenty-nine) soldiers were said to have been killed in the attack on the soldiers near the western side of Niger.
The attack that took place near the country’s border with Mali, during military operations, was said to have been aimed at neutralising the threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)’s armed group in the area.
According to a statement made by Niger’s Ministry of Defence, it was stated that a three-day national mourning period has been declared in the country over the incident that involved the use of improvised explosive devices and kamikaze vehicles by more than a 100 (hundred) terrorists. The Ministry added that2 (two) soldiers were seriously wounded and “several dozen terrorists” were also killed.
Attacks by armed groups have plagued Africa’s Sahel region for more than 10 (ten) years, breaking out in Northern Mali in 2012 before spreading to neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso in 2015. The “three border” area between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso is a regular scene of attacks by fighters affiliated with ISIS and Al-Qaeda.
The violence has fuelled military takeovers in all three countries, with Niger the latest to fall to a coup on July 26, 2023, which overthrew Mohammed Bazoum, its democratically elected president.
