Niger faces deadly assault: Islamic State kills 41 soldiers

• Where and when did the attack occur? On Saturday, in the Tahoua region in southern Niger, Islamic State fighters attacked a military post in Eknewan.
• What were the consequences of the attack? At least 41 soldiers were killed, and the attackers seized and destroyed military equipment. Many soldiers are missing or have been taken captive.
• What actions were taken after the attack? Security forces have begun searching for the missing soldiers and are attempting to recover the stolen equipment.

According to military sources cited by the Zagazola portal, the attack, which began shortly before dawn on Saturday, was particularly brutal and lasted almost three hours. During this time, the fighters took over the base, set fire to nine vehicles, and captured a large quantity of weapons and ammunition.

At least 41 personnel of the Niger forces were killed. Several soldiers remain missing: they have either fled the battlefield or been taken captive by the attackers. On Sunday, security forces started searching for them and attempting to recover the stolen military equipment.

The Saturday attack occurred only 8 months after a similar offensive on the same Eknewan base (18 September 2024), during which 38 Nigerien soldiers were killed.

The Tahoua region, located close to the border with Nigeria, is one of the most unstable areas in Niger. It is frequently attacked by armed groups linked to the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda. The lack of military cooperation between Niger and Nigeria, caused by personal animosity between Niger's President Abdourahmane Tiani and Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu, further exacerbates the situation.

Following a coup in 2023, which brought Tiani to power, Niger left the regional ECOWAS bloc and, along with Mali and Burkina Faso, formed the Sahel States Alliance. This decision was a response to ECOWAS intervention attempts aimed at restoring the ousted president Mohamed Bazoum to power.