Description: Resident witness testimonies from the village called Manda, reported that several dozen attackers affiliated with the extremist terrorist group ISIS, targeted Muslim worshipers heading for prayers killing more than 70 people. The attacks are close to last week’s massacre of soldiers, where 34 of them died after vehicle mounted attacks on a military outpost was conducted also by ISIS in the village of Banibangou. Niger has been beleaguered by terrorist violence ever since the army overthrew the democratically elected President, Mohamed Bazoum in 2023. The country joined the anti – terrorism Alliance of Sahel states with Mali and Burkina Faso, however, security forces have so far consistently failed in countering violent attacks and operations conducted by ISIS or Al Qaeda.
Impact: The security crisis in the Sahel dramatically deteriorates by the day, with terrorist groups enlarging their ground operations attacking civilians and military outposts and expanding their operational footprint. The newly formed anti – terrorism coalition has evident operational problems as Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso fail to conform towards a joint security front to counter terrorist organizations in the region. The tri – state junta governments are risking losing territorial control over their respective destabilized countries which would provide terrorist groups such as ISIS and Al Qaeda a blank cheque for establishing ground control and bases of operations. Russia is currently the most influential global actor in the region, with presence from state – sponsored military organizations such as the Africa Corps, which are also struggling in establishing an organized offensive against terrorist groups. ISIS continues to expand its presence exploiting the crisis in the Middle East between Iran and Israel, which precipitates a longer period of instability in the Sahel region and expansion of activities from terrorist organizations.