All posts tagged: Niger

Mali Attacks Spotlight the Growing Reach of Militants Across West Africa

Mali Attacks Spotlight the Growing Reach of Militants Across West Africa

Published by Sam Flores

By David Lewis, Mariano ⁠Zafra ⁠and Maxwell ⁠Akalaare Adombila May 1 (Reuters) – Simultaneous attacks ​in Mali by militants linked to al ‌Qaeda and separatist ‌Tuareg rebels on April ⁠25 ⁠showed how fighters from different groups with different ​goals were able to strike at the heart of the West African ​country’s military government. Despite a series of interventions ⁠since ⁠2013 by French, ⁠U.S., UN ​and Russian troops, these militant groups, alongside ​other factions ⁠aligned with Islamic State, have also made significant gains elsewhere in the region. The groups have expanded ⁠their presence in Niger and Burkina Faso and ⁠have linked up with Islamist militants in northern Nigeria. Their reach now stretches over 3,000 km (1,900 miles) from western Mali near Senegal, through Nigeria and into Chad. Click here for a story about ⁠the presence of militant groups across West Africa, including their proximity to major mining operations, presented as ​a graphic: (Editing by David Clarke ​and Jon McClure) Copyright 2026 Thomson Reuters. Photos You Should See – April 2026 Source link

‘Race to the border’ as Islamic State group and JNIM clash in Niger

‘Race to the border’ as Islamic State group and JNIM clash in Niger

Published by Sam Flores

For the first time, the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM have clashed in West Africa’s Niger. While previous confrontations between the two jihadist groups had taken place in the tri-border area with Mali and Burkina Faso, they are now spreading toward a new border region between Niger, Nigeria, and Benin, in what FRANCE 24’s Wassim Nasr describes as a “race to the border” as the two groups vie for resources and recruits. Keywords for this article Source link

Analysis-Suicide Bombings Show Resilience of Nigerian Jihadists Despite Years of War

Analysis-Suicide Bombings Show Resilience of Nigerian Jihadists Despite Years of War

Published by Sam Flores

By David Lewis and MacDonald Dzirutwe LONDON/LAGOS, March 17 (Reuters) – Nigeria’s president described attacks in the northeast’s most heavily defended ⁠city as “the ⁠final desperate” acts of militants trying to spread fear. Many ⁠experts say the opposite is true, that the blasts were a sign of strength not weakness. An assault on Maiduguri by coordinated suicide bombers points to ​state intelligence failures and the capacity of Islamist militants to hit urban areas despite waves of government operations against them, they said. It is still not clear which of Nigeria’s militant groups carried out the attack, underscoring the complexity of a ‌sprawling 17-year insurgency that has killed tens of thousands of ‌people and forced millions more from their homes. ‘WE THINK THIS IS THE START’ Given a spate of other attacks in recent weeks carried out by both Boko Haram militants and ISWAP, an Islamic State-allied faction, some analysts said that ⁠there could have been ⁠a degree of coordination between the often rival groups. “We have to see this as the groups oozing confidence in …

Assailants Kill at Least 30 in Northwest Nigeria Villages, Residents Say

Assailants Kill at Least 30 in Northwest Nigeria Villages, Residents Say

Published by Sam Flores

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Feb 14 (Reuters) – Armed assailants on ⁠motorbikes ⁠killed at least 30 people ⁠and burned houses and shops during raids on three villages ​in northwest Nigeria’s Niger State early on Saturday, residents who escaped the violence told ‌Reuters. The attacks on villages in ‌the Borgu Local Government Area, near the border with Benin Republic, are part ⁠of ⁠a surge in attacks blamed on “bandits,” who have carried out deadly ​assaults, abductions for ransom, and displaced communities across northern Nigeria. Insecurity is a pressing concern in Nigeria and the government is under mounting pressure to restore stability. Wasiu Abiodun, Niger State ​police spokesperson, confirmed the attack in one of the villages.  “Suspected bandits invaded Tunga-Makeri ⁠village … ⁠six persons lost their lives, ⁠some ​houses were also set ablaze, and a yet-to-be ascertained number of persons were abducted,” ​Abiodun said.  He added that ⁠the assailants had moved on to Konkoso village, while details of other attacks remained unclear. Jeremiah Timothy, a resident of Konkoso who fled to a nearby locality, said the attack on his …

Niger: Who attacked Niamey’s airport and what it reveals?

Niger: Who attacked Niamey’s airport and what it reveals?

Published by Sam Flores

An attack on Niamey’s Base 101 at the international airport left four soldiers wounded after two hours of heavy fighting. France 24’s Wassim Nasr takes a close look at the assault and reveals key details: the base’s sensitivity, the presence of Russian mercenaries and Italian troops, drone defenses, and evidence suggesting multiple ISIS branches are operating in the region. Keywords for this article Source link

ISIL claims responsibility for Niger airport attack | ISIL/ISIS News

ISIL claims responsibility for Niger airport attack | ISIL/ISIS News

Published by Sam Flores

Claim comes after military ruler Abdourahamane Tiani accused France, Benin, Ivory coast of involvement in the attack. Published On 30 Jan 202630 Jan 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share The ISIL (ISIS) armed group has claimed responsibility for an attack on an air force base at Niger’s main airport. The ISIL-affiliated Amaq News Agency reported on Friday that the group carried out a “surprise and coordinated attack” on the base at Diori Hamani International Airport near the capital, Niamey. It claimed the attack caused “significant damage”, without providing more details. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list The military government, which took power in a 2023 coup, said security forces killed 20 attackers in fighting after the attack, which took place shortly after midnight on Thursday. Four army soldiers were wounded in the violence. Niger’s authorities have been fighting ISIL affiliate Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS) and the al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) in the west and southeast of the country for a decade. …

Islamic State group claims deadly attack on Niamey airport in Niger

Islamic State group claims deadly attack on Niamey airport in Niger

Published by Sam Flores

The Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on the airport in Niger’s capital Niamey in a statement on Friday, according to SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks jihadist activity and communications worldwide. The claim of responsibility was contained in a statement on Amaq News Agency, the group’s propaganda wing, that said it was “a surprise and coordinated attack” that inflicted heavy losses. The IS group’s affiliate in the region has been linked to high-profile attacks in Niger in recent months, killing over a 120 people in strikes targeting the Tillaberi region in September and abducting an American pilot in October. Niger’s government said in a statement that the attackers arrived on motorcycles and security forces quickly repelled their advance, killing 20 of the attackers and arresting 11 others. Material losses at the airport included a stash of ammunition that caught fire, the government said, and several civilian airplanes that were damaged. Read moreGunfire and explosions heard near airport in Niger’s capital, residents say Niger has struggled to contain deadly jihadist violence that has battered parts of Africa’s …

How a uranium supply coveted by Russia ended up in limbo in Niger

How a uranium supply coveted by Russia ended up in limbo in Niger

Published by Sam Flores

style https://assets-decodeurs.lemonde.fr/redacweb/lm-styles/lm-styles.v2.1.0.css source https://assets-decodeurs.lemonde.fr/doc_happens/2512-orano/2512-orano-texts-en.txt source https://assets-decodeurs.lemonde.fr/doc_happens/2512-orano/structure.txt source https://assets-decodeurs.lemonde.fr/doc_happens/2512-orano/styles.txt For over a month, they were parked in a corner of Air Base 101, the military zone of Niamey airport. The 34 trucks – each carrying two containers – formed a visible row in satellite imagery. Their cargo? Roughly 1,000 metric tons of “yellowcake” (uranium concentrate) produced at the Arlit mine in northern Niger by the French nuclear group Orano, before the company was forced out by the junta led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, who came to power in a July 2023 coup. In early November, several French government sources told Le Monde that they were concerned that Russia could acquire this uranium stockpile and, above all, about the risks of transporting it by road through regions controlled by jihadist groups. According to these sources, Nigerien authorities and the Russian nuclear giant Rosatom had just reached a deal for 1,000 metric tons of yellowcake – out of the 1,400 stored in Arlit – for a price of $170 million (€145 million). Both parties denied the transaction. You …