An ambush by a terrorist group killed 21 Nigerien soldiers near the country’s border with Burkina Faso on Tuesday. The news was announced by Niger’s ruling military junta on national television. However, the statement did not specify which group was responsible for the attack.
Niger is currently facing a severe security crisis involving multiple armed groups. Last week, the rebel Patriotic Liberation Front attacked a China-backed pipeline and threatened further attacks if the $400 million deal with China is not canceled.
This group is led by Salah Mahmoud, a former rebel leader, who resumed armed activities after the military junta took power by overthrowing the democratically elected government last year.
Niger, along with neighboring countries Mali and Burkina Faso, is also battling armed groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State. This conflict in the Sahel region has been ongoing for a decade and continues to worsen.
Thousands of people were killed last year, and more than 2 million people have been displaced due to the violence, according to the United Nations.
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Both Mali and Burkina Faso are also currently led by military juntas, having experienced two coups each since 2020. These countries have expelled French forces and turned to Russian mercenaries to help combat the Islamist groups.
Despite these efforts, the security situation remains dire, with the armed groups continuing to launch attacks and destabilize the region.
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