An ambush by armed men in a flashpoint region in military-run Niger last week killed at least 14 soldiers, the country’s defense minister said in a statement, the latest in escalating militant attacks in the West African nation.
The attack took place in the hotspot Tillabéri region on Wednesday, said the statement.
Several militant groups that target both civilians and the military operate in Niger, including an Islamic State group affiliate.
The Tillabéri region borders Mali and Burkina Faso — two other countries struggling with escalating insurgency — and has been a hotspot for terror attacks over the past decade.
The Nigerien military government came to power in 2023, after deposing the country’s democratically elected government, promising to stem the increasing spread of attacks. However, data shows the attacks have stepped up.
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