2023 Koutougou attack

Koutougou attack
Part of Jihadist insurgency in Niger
Date August 15, 2023 Location Koutougou, Niger Result Indecisive
Belligerents
Niger	Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin
Casualties and losses
17+ killed 20 injured	~100 killed (per Niger) 50 motorcycles destroyed

On August 15, 2023, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) ambushed Nigerien soldiers near Koutougou, a village on the border between Niger and Mali. The ambush killed at least seventeen Nigerien soldiers, and was the first major attack by a jihadist group on Nigerien forces since the 2023 Nigerien coup d'état.

Background

On July 26, 2023, disgruntled Nigerien officers led by Abdourahamane Tchiani overthrew the democratically-elected government of Mohamed Bazoum, decrying him for not effectively combatting the jihadist insurgencies in the country by Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin, Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, and Boko Haram. ^[1] Analysts stated that the coup would allow jihadists to expand even more throughout the tri-border region between Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. ^{[2] [3]}

Following the coup, the Nigerien Army called a portion of its forces back to Niamey, amplifying the threat along the Malian border. Five civilians were killed on August 3 by jihadists in Anzourou, twelve civilians were killed on August 4 near Wabila and Hondobon, five Nigerien national guardsmen were killed on August 9 in Bourkou Boundou, and six national guardsmen were killed on August 13 in Sanam. ^[4]

Attack

The Nigerien Ministry of Defense published the news of the attack on August 16, stated that a convoy of Nigerien forces moving between Boni and Torodi was ambushed by a group of jihadists, killing seventeen soldiers and injuring twenty others. ^{[5] [6]} The injured soldiers were taken to hospitals in Niamey for treatment. ^[6] In the statement, Nigerien officials claimed that over 100 jihadists and 50 motorcycles were killed in reprisal operations. ^[7]

JNIM claimed responsibility for the ambush on August 18, also corroborating the death toll of seventeen soldiers. JNIM did not publish a toll of their casualties, although they did state they captured a drone and a mortar. ^[8]

References

1. Faucon, Benoit; Steinhauser, Gabriele (July 31, 2023). "Niger Coup Leaders Detain Ministers, Party Officials". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
2. Madowo, Sarah Dean, Niamh Kennedy, Larry (2023-07-26). "Niger soldiers claim power after president's own guards reportedly seize him". CNN. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
3. Mcallister, Edward (3 August 2023). "Niger coup leaders blamed insecurity; conflict data paints a different picture". Reuters . Retrieved 4 August 2023.
4. "Niger: nouvelle attaque jihadiste depuis le coup d'État, dans l'ouest du pays". RFI (in French). 2023-08-14. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
5. "Niger Says 17 Soldiers Killed in Ambush". Voice of America. 2023-08-16. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
6. "More than a dozen Niger soldiers killed in attack near Mali border". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
7. "17 Niger soldiers killed, 20 injured in ambush by suspected terrorists". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
8. Nasr, Wassim (August 18, 2023). "#Niger #JNIM #AQMI revendique l'attaque entre #Boni & #Torodi du 17 août "au moins 17 morts" et prises d'armements divers dont un mortier et un petit drone". Twitter. Retrieved August 30, 2024.