A terrorist group launched an ambush that resulted in the death of 21 Nigerien soldiers near the border with Burkina Faso, as announced by Niger’s ruling military junta in a statement broadcasted on national television. The statement provided no specific details regarding the identity of the group responsible for the attack. Niger is currently grappling with a severe security crisis involving multiple armed groups.

Just last week, the rebel organization known as the Patriotic Liberation Front targeted a China-backed pipeline and issued threats of further attacks unless a $400 million deal with China is terminated. Led by Salah Mahmoud, a former rebel leader, this group took up arms following a coup orchestrated by the junta last year, which overthrew a democratically elected government.

In addition to these challenges, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso are also contending with extremist movements affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State in the Sahel region. This decade-long conflict has exacerbated the situation, resulting in the loss of thousands of lives last year and the displacement of over 2 million individuals, according to the United Nations.

Both Mali and Burkina Faso, like Niger, are governed by juntas and have experienced two coups each since 2020. These juntas have expelled French forces and turned to Russian mercenaries in their struggle to suppress the activities of Islamist groups.