The Economic Community of West African States has condemned the killing of seventeen Nigerien soldiers by suspected jihadists.
The attack happened on Tuesday near the country’s western border with Mali, according to a statement by Niger’s defence ministry.
“The provisional toll” is 17 soldiers killed and 20 wounded, six of them seriously, “all evacuated to Niamey”, the statement added.
In a reaction to the incident on Wednesday, ECOWAS expressed worry over the killings of the soldiers, while it expressed sympathy for the victims’ families.
The statement read in part, “ECOWAS has learnt with sadness various attacks by armed groups in the Republic of Niger that have led to the death of several Nigerien soldiers.
“ECOWAS condemns these attacks and conveys its deepest condolences to the people of Niger and the families of the soldiers who have lost their lives.”
ECOWAS also reiterated the call for the return of reins of power in the country to democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum who has been held in his residence since he was ousted by a military coup on July 26.
