At least 38 Nigerien soldiers have been confirmed dead after suspected Islamic State (IS) fighters launched coordinated attacks on two military positions in Niger, highlighting the worsening security situation in the country.
The attacks were reported by security analyst Zagazola Makama, who said the latest assault occurred on Friday when suspected IS fighters stormed a military base at Dankassari, located between Doutchi and Yaya in Dosso Region.
According to the report, the attackers overran the forward operating base of the Nigerien Defence and Security Forces (FDS) after fierce fighting.
Makama said at least 21 soldiers were killed in the attack, while the number of those injured or missing had not been confirmed.
“The consolidated casualty figure stood at 21 soldiers killed. The number of wounded or missing personnel was not immediately available,” he said.
The attack came just hours after another deadly assault on the town of N’Guigmi in Diffa Region, where 17 members of the Nigerien Defence and Security Forces, including an officer, were reportedly killed in a separate attack also blamed on suspected Islamic State fighters.
The two incidents brought the total number of security personnel killed in the country on July 31 to 38, according to the report.
Makama said the latest attacks underscore the persistent security challenges facing Niger despite ongoing military operations against extremist groups operating across the Tillabéri, Dosso, Diffa and Tahoua regions.
The report also cited figures compiled by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), showing that at least 5,828 people, including more than 2,000 members of Niger’s Defence and Security Forces, have been killed in terrorism-related violence since the military takeover on July 26, 2023.
The latest attacks add to growing concerns over the continued activities of extremist groups in Niger and the broader Sahel region, where governments continue to battle insurgent violence despite intensified military operations.
