More than 200 artillerymen on motorcycles a stormy army base in Banibanangu

More than 200 motorcycles have attacked Niger’s base near Mali’s border, leaving at least 34 soldiers dead, the country’s defense ministry said.

The attackers – described by the ministry as “mercenaries” – attacked the base in the western town of Banibanu on Thursday, injuring 14 other soldiers.

The ministry said his forces had killed “dozens of terrorists” in the battle.

Niger’s military is under pressure that they are unable to restrict the belligerent attacks, one of his justifications to deposit Democratically elected President Mohammed Bazum in 2023.

“This Thursday, June 19, a cowardly and barbaric attack was made against (the city of) Banibanu with a horde of several hundred mercenaries aboard eight vehicles and more than 200 motorcycles,” the ministry said in state television.

He added that the troops were conducting search operations in Banibangang to track the attackers.

The city, which is located near the tripartite border between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, is prone to jihadist attacks by Islamist groups.

Niger’s ruling junta has expelled French and American forces, who have been heavily engaged in the fight against jihadists.

West African neighbors Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali face an uprising by various jihadist groups working in the Sahel region.

The three countries have set up a alliance to fight jihadists and scales connections with the West, instead turning to Russia and Turkey for their security needs.

But violence continues.