Islamic State assault leaves 41 Nigerien soldiers dead
Islamic State fighters attacked a military post in Eknewan, Niger. It was one of the bloodiest assaults on Nigerien forces in recent months, resulting in the deaths of 41 soldiers.
What do you need to know?
- Where and when did the attack occur? On Saturday, in the Tahoua region of southern Niger, Islamic State fighters targeted 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 went missing or were taken captive.
- What actions were taken after the attack? Security forces began searching for the missing soldiers and attempting to recover the captured equipment.
According to military sources cited by the Zagazola portal, the attack, which began shortly before dawn (around 6:00 GMT) 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 amount of weapons and ammunition.
Attack on the post in Eknewan
At least 41 personnel of the Nigerien forces were killed. Several soldiers are still missing: either they fled from the battlefield or were taken captive by the attackers. On Sunday, security forces commenced searching for them and were trying to recover the stolen military equipment.
The attack on Saturday occurred only 8 months after a similar offensive on the same Eknewan base (18th September 2024), during which 38 Nigerien soldiers were killed.
The Tahoua region, located near 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, 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 aiming to restore the ousted president Mohamed Bazoum to power.
