At least 29 Nigerien soldiers have been killed in an attack by jihadis, says Niger’s defense ministry. The attack occurred near the Nigerien border with Mali, where upwards of 100 extremists utilized homemade explosives to attack Niger security forces stationed at the border for a military clearance operation. The ministry did not disclose what group was responsible for the ambush, nor when the ambush happened, other than the fact that the military operation had occurred sometime between September 26st and October 2nd. Niger’s military junta has struggled to get these attacks by extremists under control; this is the second attack by violent extremists in a week. In wake of the attack, the government has declared three days of national mourning for the lives lost.

Niger’s Defense Minister Gen. Salifou Mody stated on national television that, “This attack unfortunately caused the loss of several of our valiant soldiers…The provisional assessment of this attack is as follows: on the friendly side, 29 soldiers fell…On the enemy side, several dozen terrorists were neutralized, fifteen motorcycles destroyed, a large quantity of weapons and ammunition seized.”

This attack was the deadliest since the Nigerien military seized power in a coup this past July. As attacks like these continue, questions arise concerning the ability of Niger’s military government to ensure the country’s national security. Various Western nations as well as West Africa’s regional bloc have all called for Niger to return to democratic rule, but Niger has made no progress in doing so. These growing tensions further highlight the increasing insecurity of the region.

Niger and its neighbors, Mali and Burkina Faso, have been fighting for years against frequent attacks led by extremist groups linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State. These three countries were considered some of the few remaining democratic countries in the region. In fact, the United States and various European countries had spent money to boost their military capacity, but all three countries have since fallen to military rule due to the pressure of extremist attacks. The Nigerien military junta seized power on July 26th, 2023 after staging a coup against Niger’s democratically elected government. After its rise to power, the junta has been gradually kicking out foreign troops and United Nations peacekeepers. These troops had been helping to mitigate the extremist attacks, thus, violent activity has increased since their removal from the country.

Ultimately, this latest attack highlights the long-standing insecurities in Niger and the surrounding area, as well as raising questions regarding the Nigerien government’s ability to ensure civilian safety from future violent insurgencies. Attacks such as this will continually put pressure on the Nigerien government, and test the junta’s ability to respond to them switfly and effectively.