Thirteen Nigerien soldiers were killed in two separate attacks by Daesh and Boko Haram militants. Despite efforts to stabilize the country following a 2023 coup, militant activity and unrest persist. Niger, along with Mali and Burkina Faso, is forming a joint force to address shared security challenges.

Thirteen Nigerien soldiers lost their lives in two separate clashes with suspected militant groups, the army reported on Wednesday.

The first incident occurred at a gold mining site in the western Tillaberi region, where nine soldiers were killed during a confrontation with affiliates of the Daesh terror group, according to an operations bulletin from the army. The attack, which took place on March 15, saw reinforcements arrive from across the Burkina Faso border on approximately 100 motorcycles. In response, the neighboring countries coordinated an air and ground operation that resulted in the deaths of 55 militants, as stated by the Nigerien side. Seven Nigerien soldiers were also wounded during the clash.

Two days later, a military outpost on the opposite side of the Sahel country was attacked by a group of around 300 fighters identified as members of Boko Haram. The assailants used booby-trapped vehicles and explosives, resulting in the deaths of four soldiers, the army confirmed.

Niger, a landlocked country governed by a junta that took power in a coup in July 2023, has pledged to restore stability and secure its mining and oil revenue. However, the nation continues to face unrest, marked by a rise in militant activities and severe socio-economic impacts due to imposed sanctions, as reported by the international conflict monitor ACLED.

Alongside its junta-led allies Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger is working to establish a joint 5,000-strong force to address their shared security challenges, which include insurgency, organized crime, and human trafficking networks.