2023 Koutougou attack

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. Analysts stated that the coup would allow jihadists to expand even more throughout the tri-border region between Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. 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. == 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. The injured soldiers were taken to hospitals in Niamey for treatment. 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. == References ==