Seven Soldiers Killed In Niger Mine Explosion

The Nigerien National Guard (GNN) said on Sunday that seven Nigerien soldiers were killed when their vehicle exploded on a mine in the western region of Tillabéri, where jihadist groups regularly operate.

"A vehicle from the weekly supply escort mission struck a mine late this morning, about 6 kilometres from the village of Samira, in the department of Gothèye, near the border with Burkina Faso," according to a statement from the GNN, which is attached to the Interior Ministry and is at the forefront of the anti-jihadist fight.

"Unfortunately, the death of seven occupants of the vehicle is deplored," a statement read on state television Sunday evening.

Since 2004, the town of Samira has been home to Niger's first industrial gold mine.

The department of Gothèye is located on the right bank of the Niger River in the Tillabéri region, which is bounded by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

"A vehicle from the weekly supply escort mission struck a mine late this morning, about 6 kilometres from the village of Samira, in the department of Gothèye, near the border with Burkina Faso," said the GNN, which is attached to the Interior Ministry and is at the forefront of the anti-jihadist fight.

Samira has been home to Niger's first industrial gold mine since 2004.

The department of Gothèye is located in the Tillabéri area, which is bordered by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger on the right bank of the Niger River.

Since February 2022, the Nigerien government has been fighting jihadist organizations associated with Al Qaeda and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS) in Niya (Will, in the local language), with about 2,000 troops.

Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa (Iswap) are also waging deadly attacks in Niger's south-eastern region.

Last week, the army killed "six terrorists" and apprehended 19 in the Ayorou area (Tillabéri region), where recent violent battles between communities killed numerous people.

In June 2022, eight gendarmes were murdered and thirty-three were injured in a "terrorist" attack in Waraou, a town in the Gothèye department.

Niger receives military assistance from various Western nations, including France and the United States, who operate military facilities there.

Paris is reorganizing its military position in the Sahel, where Niger is a crucial partner and hosts 2,000 French troops, while those in Mali and Burkina Faso have been forced out.