Niger’s western region, long plagued by militant activity, suffered a heavy blow on Tuesday. An armed group attacked a security force contingent near the village of Tassia, according to the country’s defence ministry.
The attack resulted in the deaths of 20 troops and one civilian, bringing the total number of casualties to 21. Nine soldiers also sustained injuries during the assault.
In response to the tragedy, the government declared three days of national mourning, commencing on Wednesday. Flags will be flown at half-mast nationwide.
The defence ministry statement acknowledged the “unshakeable determination” of the security forces and vowed to “continue this fight for sovereignty.” Efforts are underway to locate the remaining attackers, with ground and air reinforcements deployed to the area.
The incident occurred in the Tillaberi region, bordering Mali and Burkina Faso. This region has been a battleground for nearly a decade, with extremist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group carrying out a brutal insurgency.