10 soldiers killed, 15 injured in two separate attacks near the Burkina Faso border.
Niger’s government has confirmed the deaths of ten soldiers and fifteen others injured following coordinated attacks by suspected jihadist fighters near its western border with Burkina Faso. The ambushes occurred on Thursday in Bouloundjounga and Samira, both in the Gotheyea hotspot for extremist violence.
According to Defence Minister General Salifou Modi, the attacks were launched by “several hundred mercenaries” and happened at the same time. Addressing the public on national TV, he noted that Nigerien troops fought back strongly, killing 41 attackers.
“On the enemy side, 41 mercenaries were neutralised,” said General Modi.
The two villages lie within the tri-border zone connecting Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, a region where terror groups affiliated with ISIS and Al-Qaeda have caused unrest for years. Despite increased military efforts, these groups continue to exploit the porous borders and local tensions.
Samira village, one of the targets, is also home to Niger’s only industrial gold mine. The site has faced repeated threats. In May 2025, eight workers were killed when a roadside bomb hit their vehicle, an attack blamed on jihadist militants.
Since the military junta took power in July 2023, Niger has stepped up security patrols, especially in western regions. But the government admits the situation remains fragile. Authorities say they are working to tighten protection around key economic assets like the Samira mine and improve the country’s overall counterterrorism strategy.
