KIGALI, Rwanda

At least 12 Nigerien soldiers were killed in an armed attack in Western Niger’s Tillaberi region, the army said on Sunday.

The attack occurred on Friday near the Mali-Niger-Burkina Faso tri-border area.

In a statement, the military said the soldiers were killed in a “surprise attack by terrorist elements hidden among civilian camps.”

The attack targeted a unit of defense forces engaged in a security operation about 10 km (6 miles) north of Sakoira village, it said, adding that despite a “heroic response and the arrival of air and ground reinforcements, 12 Nigerien soldiers paid with their lives for their commitment to the nation.”

Two suspects were also arrested in the ensuing combat operation.

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are facing spiraling insecurity, with terrorist groups moving from Mali to other neighbors in the Sahel region.

The security situation in Niger has significantly deteriorated since the military ousted former President Mohamed Bazoum in 2023, with attacks targeting the army and civilians, according to security analysts.

Last month, 13 Nigerien soldiers were killed in two separate clashes with insurgent groups in the Tillaberi region.

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, under their formation Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States, are forging a unified military force capable of responding effectively to the persistent security challenges in the Sahel region.