Niger: Police post attacked near Burkina Faso border Nov. 17

Event

On Saturday, November 17, suspected Islamist militants attacked a police post located in the vicinity of the village of Makalondi, near the border with Burkina Faso. Two policemen were killed and one was injured; a fourth remains missing as of November 19. The attack comes amid ongoing Nigerien military operations targeting militants along the borders with Burkina Faso and Mali, where the security situation has deteriorated in recent months.

Context

Militants have been increasingly active in the Niger-Mali-Burkina Faso border area, which the countries' respective governments have had difficulty securing.

More generally, Niger faces a high threat from terrorism, including armed attacks and abductions. Militant Islamist cells from various Nigerian and Malian terrorist groups - including Boko Haram, Al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), and Al-Mourabitoun - are all active in the country.

Advice

Individuals throughout Niger should exercise vigilance when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted by an attack (e.g. government buildings, prominent hotels, etc.) and report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities. Many Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to areas located in the north and west of the country, including areas along the border with Burkina Faso, as well as areas along the Nigerian border to the south, due to the high risk of terrorist activity.