Armed men in western Niger kill 34 soldiers and wound 14, authorities say
DAKAR, Senegal — Armed men killed 34 soldiers and wounded 14 others in western Niger near the tri-state border with Mali and Burkina Faso, the defence ministry said.
The attack was carried out around 9 a.m. Thursday in Banibangou by attackers using eight vehicles and more than 200 motorbikes, the ministry said in a statement.
The government said its forces killed dozens of attackers it called 'terrorists,' adding that search operations by land and air were being conduted to find additional assailants.
Niger, along with its neighbors Burkina Faso and Mali, has for more than a decade battled an insurgency fought by jihadi groups, including some allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.
Following military coups in the three nations in recent years, the ruling juntas have expelled French forces and turned to Russia's mercenary units for security assistance. The three countries have vowed to strengthen their cooperation by establishing a new security alliance, the Alliance of Sahel States.
But the security situation in the Sahel, a vast region on the fringes of the Sahara Desert, has significantly worsened since the juntas took power, analysts say, with a record number of attacks and civilians killed by Islamic militants and government forces.
Monika Pronczuk, The Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
2 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Niger says it will nationalize a uranium venture operated by France's Orano
Niger's government said Thursday it would nationalize the Somaïr uranium venture operated by French company Orano and accused it of taking a disproportionate share of the uranium produced at the site. The announcement comes as military authorities in the west African country tighten their grip on foreign companies and civil society. Tensions have simmered for months between Niger's military government and the French company, and relations between Niamey and Paris have deteriorated. 'Faced with the irresponsible, illegal, and unfair behavior by Orano, a company owned by the French state – a state openly hostile toward Niger since July 26, 2023 ... the government of Niger has decided, in full sovereignty, to nationalize Somaïr,' the authorities said in a statement. Canada's GoviEx Uranium stripped of right to develop uranium project in Niger The authorities allege that Orano took a disproportionate share of the uranium produced at Somaïr. They added that the company has also been accused of other 'irresponsible actions' at the site, without elaborating. Orano did not immediately reply to the Associated Press's request for a comment. Somaïr is a joint venture between Orano and Niger's state-owned Sopamin, which operates the only active uranium mine in the country. But last year, authorities took operational control of Somaïr. They also withdrew Orano's operating permit for the Imouraren uranium mine, with reserves estimated at 200,000 tons. Orano is involved in several arbitration processes with Niger. Last month it sued the Nigerien authorities after the disappearance of its director and the raiding of its local offices. Orano has been operating in Niger, the world's seventh biggest supplier of uranium, for over 50 years and holds majority shares in three main uranium mines in Niger. Nigerien military authorities seized power in 2023 with a pledge to cut ties with the West and review mining concessions. Before that, the country was the West's major economic and security partner in the Sahel, the vast region south of the Sahara Desert that has been a hot spot for violent extremism.
CTV News
4 hours ago
- CTV News
Niger says it will nationalize a uranium venture operated by France's Orano
DAKAR, Senegal — Niger's government said Thursday it would nationalize the Somaïr uranium venture operated by French company Orano and accused it of taking a disproportionate share of the uranium produced at the site. The announcement comes as military authorities in the west African country tighten their grip on foreign companies and civil society. Tensions have simmered for months between Niger's military government and the French company, and relations between Niamey and Paris have deteriorated. 'Faced with the irresponsible, illegal, and unfair behavior by Orano, a company owned by the French state — a state openly hostile toward Niger since July 26, 2023 ... the government of Niger has decided, in full sovereignty, to nationalize Somaïr,' the authorities said in a statement. The authorities allege that Orano took a disproportionate share of the uranium produced at Somaïr. They added that the company has also been accused of other 'irresponsible actions' at the site, without elaborating. Orano did not immediately reply to The Associated Press' request for a comment. Somaïr is a joint venture between Orano and Niger's state-owned Sopamin, which operates the only active uranium mine in the country. But last year, authorities took operational control of Somaïr. They also withdrew Orano's operating permit for the Imouraren uranium mine, with reserves estimated at 200,000 tons. Orano is involved in several arbitration processes with Niger. Last month it sued the Nigerien authorities after the disappearance of its director and the raiding of its local offices. Orano has been operating in Niger, the world's seventh biggest supplier of uranium, for over 50 years and holds majority shares in three main uranium mines in Niger. Nigerien military authorities seized power in 2023 with a pledge to cut ties with the West and review mining concessions. Before that, the country was the West's major economic and security partner in the Sahel, the vast region south of the Sahara Desert that has been a hot spot for violent extremism. Monika Pronczuk, The Associated Press
CTV News
6 hours ago
- CTV News
Armed men in western Niger kill 34 soldiers and wound 14, authorities say
DAKAR, Senegal — Armed men killed 34 soldiers and wounded 14 others in western Niger near the tri-state border with Mali and Burkina Faso, the defence ministry said. The attack was carried out around 9 a.m. Thursday in Banibangou by attackers using eight vehicles and more than 200 motorbikes, the ministry said in a statement. The government said its forces killed dozens of attackers it called 'terrorists,' adding that search operations by land and air were being conduted to find additional assailants. Niger, along with its neighbors Burkina Faso and Mali, has for more than a decade battled an insurgency fought by jihadi groups, including some allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Following military coups in the three nations in recent years, the ruling juntas have expelled French forces and turned to Russia's mercenary units for security assistance. The three countries have vowed to strengthen their cooperation by establishing a new security alliance, the Alliance of Sahel States. But the security situation in the Sahel, a vast region on the fringes of the Sahara Desert, has significantly worsened since the juntas took power, analysts say, with a record number of attacks and civilians killed by Islamic militants and government forces. Monika Pronczuk, The Associated Press
