Islamist militants have killed at least 44 civilians and injured 13 others in a brutal attack on a mosque in southwest Niger, the country’s defense ministry reported. The assault took place during afternoon prayers on Friday in the village of Fombita, located in the Kokorou commune near the volatile tri-border area of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali—a region notorious for jihadist activity tied to both al Qaeda and the Islamic State.
The defense ministry attributed the attack to the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS), a group affiliated with ISIS, which has been responsible for several deadly assaults in the Sahel region. The militants encircled the mosque and carried out a “massacre of rare cruelty,” according to the ministry’s statement. The attackers also set fire to a market and nearby homes before fleeing the scene. The local military confirmed a provisional death toll of 44, with 13 civilians left severely injured.
The attack took place during Ramadan, a period of heightened religious significance, further amplifying the tragedy. In response to the massacre, the Nigerien government declared three days of national mourning.
This attack highlights the ongoing threat posed by jihadist insurgencies in the Sahel region, which has seen escalating violence since 2012, when militants first gained ground in Mali following a Tuareg rebellion. The violence has since spread across Niger, Burkina Faso, and beyond, destabilizing the region and displacing millions of people.
Niger, along with Mali and Burkina Faso, has faced repeated coups between 2020 and 2023, partly due to the governments’ inability to curb the insurgencies. In a shift away from Western military support, these countries have increasingly sought assistance from Russia.
The relentless jihadist violence in the region continues to cause widespread devastation, with local populations caught in the crossfire of insurgent groups seeking control over territory.
