Niger: Six soldiers killed in Abala (Tillabéri region) May 31

Event

According to a security source, suspected jihadist militants attacked a military position located in Abala, Tillabéri region, on Wednesday, May 31. The attack, which occurred at approximately 19:00 (local time), killed six soldiers. Security sources reported that clashes were ongoing as of Thursday, June 1, between jihadist militants and Nigerien forces near the border with Mali.

Context

The regions of Tillabéri and Tahoua have become increasingly unstable in recent months, with attacks regularly targeting army positions and refugee camps. These incidents are generally attributed to Malian jihadist groups linked in particular to the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO). On May 27, three people, including two policemen were killed and three others injured in an attack on a police station in the Tillabéri region.  On March 3, the government declared a state of emergency in several departments of the western regions of Tillabéri and Tahoua.

Advice

Visitors throughout the country should be on guard when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (government installations, prominent hotels, etc.) and report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities.

Many Western governments advise their citizens against travel to areas located in the north and west of the country, as well as areas along the Nigerian border, due to a high risk of terrorist activity.