Terrorist Attack Kills 16 Soldiers In Western Niger Republic

Sixteen soldiers have been killed and 23 others wounded in a terrorist attack targeting a military deployment in the Tera area of Tillaberi region in western Niger Republic, the country’s ANP state news agency reported on Sunday.

“A terrorist attack targeting a military deployment in the Tera area on Friday, July 17, caused 16 martyrs and 23 wounded, of which nine are serious,” ANP said.

The agency added that 15 attackers were also killed in the assault.

The attack took place near Niger Republic’s borders with Mali and Burkina Faso.

ANP said operations to search for the enemy, conduct sweeps, and secure the area were continuing.

Niger Republic has faced deadly attacks by jihadist groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State for more than a decade.

The military regime that seized power in July 2023 under General Mohammed Tchiani has been unable to contain the growing insurgency in the country’s western regions.

The Tillaberi region, which borders both Mali and Burkina Faso, has been one of the most frequently targeted areas in the country, with armed groups exploiting porous borders and vast ungoverned territory to launch repeated attacks on security forces.