![]() ![]() One attack in January 2020 killed around 100 soldiers. Attacks on civilians and the military soared. Violence crept into southwest Niger in 2018 as Islamist militants expanded from Mali, where they had been active since 2012.īy 2021, the semi-desert border area was overrun by fighters who won recruits among locals who felt sidelined by the government and angered by army abuses. Hundreds of people marched in the capital Niamey on Thursday in support of the junta as regional defence chiefs discussed possible intervention to restore democracy. "If the situation is not reversed, it's very likely that the spread of terrorism in the region can increase," Simao said. ![]() The main regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States, on Sunday gave Tiani a week to restore Bazoum, or it would consider using force. The United Nations special envoy for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simao, said he hoped diplomacy would return Bazoum to power but worried about regional security if that failed. Still, many fear that the progress made could now unravel. And groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State are active in the southwest. Boko Haram insurgents from neighbouring Nigeria have plagued the southeast for years. Insecurity remains a major problem in Niger. Military spokespeople in Mali and Burkina Faso did not respond to requests for comment. Reuters was unable to reach Niger's coup leaders for comment. They have already surpassed 5,000 this year. In Burkina Faso, where there were two coups last year, deaths rose 80% to more than 4,000 in 2022. ![]()
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