At least 10 Niger soldiers were killed in a brutal ambush by unidentified attackers near the country’s border with Burkina Faso, the Nigerien military junta reported this week. The soldiers were part of an intervention unit sent to the village of Takzat in western Niger on Monday to address a rise in cattle theft by local criminals.
The ambush occurred as the unit was conducting its operation, leading to the deaths of 10 soldiers. While the military described the attackers as “criminals,” no further details were provided regarding their identity or affiliations.
This attack comes at a time of escalating instability in the Sahel region, where several countries, including Niger, have seen military coups in recent years. In response to growing insecurity, the ruling juntas have expelled French forces and increasingly relied on Russian mercenary groups for security support. However, experts warn that the security situation in the region has deteriorated dramatically under military rule, with record levels of violence from both armed groups and government forces.
The latest ambush underscores the deepening challenges Niger faces in restoring security and stability to its volatile western frontier.
