Islamic State-affiliated militants have intensified assaults on civilians in western Niger, killing more than 127 people in five attacks since March and exposing failures to protect communities, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Wednesday.
In a report detailing incidents in the Tillaberi region near the borders with Burkina Faso and Mali, HRW said witnesses identified the assailants as members of Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISSP) based on their clothing and prior threats. Nigerien authorities rarely comment on such attacks.
The tri-border area is a hub for jihadist groups linked to Islamic State and al Qaeda. Witnesses told HRW the army did not adequately respond to warnings and ignored requests for protection ahead of some raids.
The government and a military spokesperson could not be reached for comment before publication. Reuters could not independently verify HRW’s accounts.
Niger’s junta, which seized power in a 2023 coup citing insecurity, took over as data at the time showed improvements driven by government tactics and support from French and U.S. forces. The renewed violence in Tillaberi underscores the enduring threat from jihadist groups as West African governments grow more distant from former Western military partners.
HRW urged authorities to investigate and prosecute abuses it described as apparent war crimes, adding that Niger’s justice minister did not respond to questions on its findings.