KEY POINTS
- Islamic State attacks have killed over 127 civilians in Niger.
- HRW says government failed to respond to repeated warnings.
- Tillaberi region remains highly vulnerable to ISSP violence.
Islamic State-affiliated militants have intensified assaults in western Niger, killing at least 127 people in five separate strikes since March, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday. The attacks, concentrated in the Tillaberi region near the borders with Burkina Faso and Mali, underscore Niger authorities’ struggles to protect civilians in an increasingly volatile tri-border area.
Islamic State attacks intensify
A detailed report from HRW identifies the perpetrators as members of Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISSP). Witnesses cited the attackers’ clothing, weapons, and pre-attack threats to attribute responsibility. Residents told HRW that the army failed to respond effectively to warnings, leaving communities exposed to violence. The government and military spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment ahead of the report’s release. Reuters could not independently verify the accounts.
The Tillaberi region has long been a hub of jihadist activity, attracting groups linked to both Islamic State and al-Qaeda. The surge in violence coincides with heightened tension in West Africa, where governments have distanced themselves from former Western military partners. Analysts say the escalation highlights both the operational capacity of ISSP and the limits of Niger’s current security apparatus.
Government response questioned
According to Reuters, Niger’s military junta, which seized power in 2023, cited persistent insecurity as a justification for the coup. Yet data indicate that security had improved prior to the takeover, thanks to joint operations with French and U.S. forces. HRW has called on Niger’s authorities to investigate and prosecute acts it described as apparent war crimes. The group said the justice minister did not respond to inquiries about these findings, leaving accountability uncertain.
Human rights advocates warn that without robust intervention, civilians in Tillaberi will continue to face repeated attacks, and Niger’s fragile security gains could unravel, destabilizing the broader Sahel region.
