ECOWAS condemns Niger terror attacks on soldiers

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has condemned deadly attacks by suspected terrorists in Niger after gunmen killed more than a dozen soldiers near the border with Burkina Faso.

Some of the soldiers were reportedly killed when suspected terrorists attacked a patrol vehicle of Niger’s national guard on Sunday.

This follows a similar attack by gunmen on Tuesday on an army detachment in the Tillaberi region near the border with Burkina Faso.

In its statement, the regional bloc expressed its “deepest condolences” to the people of Niger and the families of the deceased soldiers.

ECOWAS further called on the coup leaders to restore constitutional order in Niger “in order to concentrate on the security of the country, which has become increasingly fragile” since President Mohamed Bazoum was kicked out of office in a military intervention on July 26.

The 15-member bloc said earlier that it has commenced the activation of a standby force for the restoration of constitutional order in Niger.

Its chiefs of defence staff are due to meet in Ghana’s capital Accra on Thursday and Friday to discuss plans for the deployment of the standby force to Niger.