Other MoA event in Niger on Wed 23rd September 2026

NIGER 🇳🇪 | Yesterday, September 23, two terrorist attacks, attributed to ISIS, targeted Nigerien forces.

The first, which occurred around 6:30 a.m. in Fartal (22 km east of Abala, Tillabéri region), reportedly struck a joint patrol composed of personnel from the GAR-SI (Armed Forces of Niger), the police, and the army. According to local sources, the attack resulted in at least 20 deaths among the security forces, as well as 14 serious injuries, who were evacuated to the Niamey garrison. The Nigerien Ministry of Defense issued a statement on the attack that evening on the national television channel Télé-Sahel (RTN), reporting "several human and material losses" after making contact with "a large column of heavily armed mercenaries on motorcycles" who were reportedly "forced to break off contact and retreat northward." Among the victims, the names of Captain Hassoumie and Warrant Officer Djindagarey were mentioned. 2️⃣

The second attack, in the town of Dabagu (Konni department, Tahoua region), reportedly left 38 members of the Nigerien Armed Forces (FAN) dead, as well as several missing. According to local sources, the bodies were transferred to Tahoua, while other remains were transported to Niamey by helicopter. Several soldiers are also missing. Sources: @ighazer and @hamid_gade ⚠️ The Islamic State (IS) has not yet claimed responsibility for the attack. However, northern Tillaberi is the heart of the terrorist group's area of ​​operations, and the Konni department, in the south of the Tahoua region, is exposed to the activities of the Lakurawa group, affiliated with IS. (See our map 🗺️ below) ℹ️ The GAR-SI (Rapid Action Surveillance and Intervention Group) is a unit of the Nigerien National Gendarmerie (GNN) created in 2018 as part of the GAR-SI Sahel regional program. This program also led to the creation of similar units in several Sahel countries, particularly to combat terrorism and cross-border crime. Funded by the European Union, the program was suspended in Mali and Burkina Faso in 2022.