At least 34 Nigerien soldiers were killed on Thursday, June 19, in a brutal jihadist attack on a military base in Banibangou, near Niger’s border with Mali. According to the country’s defence ministry, more than 200 armed militants stormed the base on motorbikes and eight vehicles, launching a coordinated and deadly assault.
The attackers, described as “mercenaries,” engaged Nigerien forces in an intense battle that also left 14 soldiers injured. The military said its troops responded by killing “dozens of terrorists” during the confrontation. In the aftermath, security forces began sweeping operations in and around Banibangou to pursue the fleeing assailants.
Banibangou, located in the volatile tri-border region between Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, has long been a hotspot for jihadist activity. The region is plagued by extremist groups linked to both al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, who exploit porous borders and weak state presence to carry out attacks.
The latest assault underscores the escalating insecurity in Niger and the broader Sahel region, where jihadist insurgencies continue to grow despite regional efforts. The ruling military junta, which seized power from President Mohamed Bazoum in 2023, has faced increasing scrutiny over its failure to contain the violence. One of the coup’s primary justifications was the need to restore security, yet deadly attacks like the one in Banibangou persist.
Following the coup, Niger’s junta expelled French and U.S. military forces that had been aiding in counterterrorism efforts. Alongside Mali and Burkina Faso two other Sahel nations also governed by military regimes Niger has since pivoted away from Western alliances, forming the Alliance of Sahel States and deepening military cooperation with Russia and Turkey.
Despite these new alignments, the region remains under siege. Civilians and soldiers alike continue to suffer from near-daily violence, while humanitarian conditions deteriorate.
As Niger continues to search for a lasting solution to the jihadist threat, the deadly Banibangou attack stands as a grim reminder of the challenges ahead in securing peace and stability across the Sahel.
