Niger is grappling with a complex situation as it faces a deadly border attack on its soldiers by Islamist forces while simultaneously denying reports of reaching an agreement with neighboring Algeria on a six-month transition plan. This latest incident adds significant pressure on the ruling junta to find a viable solution to the political crisis that has been gripping the West African nation.
The recent attack represents a grave development in Niger’s ongoing turmoil, marking the deadliest assault since the army ousted elected President Mohamed Bazoum in a coup back in July. This upheaval threatens the stability of a nation that was once considered a Western ally in the volatile Sahel region. Currently, General Omar Tchiani, the head of Bazoum’s presidential guard, leads Niger alongside the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP).
The tragic loss of 29 soldiers occurred when they were returning from an operation near the village of Tabatol, close to the western border with Mali. They came under attack from approximately 100 “terrorists in vehicles and motorcycles,” according to a statement from the defense ministry.
While the statement did not specify the exact date of the soldiers’ tragic fate, it noted that the initial operation took place between September 26 and October 2. The attackers employed improvised explosive devices and kamikaze vehicles, as revealed by the ministry’s statement on Tuesday.
The ministry also claimed that “several dozen terrorists” were killed in the operation and that intercepted communications indicated that the insurgents had benefited from “external expertise.” However, the junta did not identify which external entities were supporting the group, and the incident has led to the declaration of three days of mourning.
Countries in the Sahel, a semi-arid region south of the Sahara, have been grappling with al-Qaeda and ISIS-linked groups for more than a decade. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are all now governed by juntas struggling to fulfill promises of enhancing security.
Niger had shown progress in reducing violence, with data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project indicating a 40 percent reduction in violent attacks during the first half of 2023 compared to the second half of the previous year.
Notably, the junta’s relationship with its former colonial power, France, has deteriorated significantly. France continues to recognize Bazoum as Niger’s legitimate leader, but President Emmanuel Macron announced last week that French troops would withdraw from Niger by the year’s end at the junta’s request, effectively ending a partnership that had supported Niger’s fight against armed groups.
This news of the border attack coincided with claims from Algiers that Niger had accepted its offer to mediate and resolve the political crisis in the country. Algeria had stepped in as a mediator back in August after rejecting an Ecowas proposal led by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, which included the possibility of restoring constitutional order in Niger through military force if necessary.
