Niger Soldiers Killed in Fighting Near Mali Border

Several Nigerien soldiers have been killed in a clash with heavily armed fighters near the border with Mali, an area affected by persistent terrorist violence.

The Defence Ministry did not provide an exact death toll but said the fighters involved were “mercenaries”, a term authorities in the junta-led country use to refer to terrorists. 

The ministry said the fighting occurred around 6:30 am on Wednesday near Fartel in the western Tillaberi region, when soldiers attempting to intercept stolen livestock encountered a large group of heavily armed fighters travelling on motorcycles.

Several soldiers were killed and others wounded during the confrontation, according to a statement read on state television.

The ministry said the fighters eventually withdrew and moved north after suffering losses, taking some of their dead with them.

“Several of our valiant soldiers unfortunately lost their lives while others were wounded in the line of duty,” the ministry added.

“After suffering several losses, the enemy was forced to disengage and retreat northward, taking several of their dead with them.”

Western Niger is among the areas where the Islamic State’s Sahel branch has a strong presence.

The junta has struggled to contain the country’s long-running terrorist conflict since taking power in a 2023 coup. The violence has killed thousands of people over the past decade.

In late August, the military government also put down a mutiny with assistance from allied Russian mercenaries after clashes at several strategic locations in the capital, Niamey.