Tabatol attack explained

Conflict:Tabatol attack
Partof:the Jihadist insurgency in Niger
Date:2 October 2023
Place:Tabatol, Tahoua Region, Niger
Result:ISGS victory
Combatant1: Niger
Combatant2: Islamic State - Sahil Province
Strength1:Unknown
Strength2:100+
Casualties1:60 killed (per RFI)[1] 29 killed (per Niger)[2]
Casualties2:"Dozens" (per Niger)
3 killed (per IS)

On 2 October 2023, over 60 Nigerien soldiers were killed in the village of Tabatol, Niger. The soldiers had been reinforcing a Nigerien outpost that had been attacked by the Islamic State – Sahil Province (ISGS) earlier in the day, and the reinforcements were attacked a second time by over 100 militants from the Islamic State's Sahel Province, who used IEDs and "kamikaze vehicles". The attack was the deadliest in the country since the coup d'état in July.[3]

Background

Niger has battled an Islamist insurgency since 2015 after extremist groups mainly from Mali began to spread their influence across the Sahel. Since then, the borders between Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, known as the "three borders", has been a hotspot for Islamic terrorism.

On 26 July 2023, Niger's president was successfully overthrown in a coup d'état, and Abdourhamane Tchiani proclaimed himself the leader of a new military junta.

Earlier in the week, 12 Nigerien soldiers were killed on 29 September in Kandadji after they were attacked by jihadists.[4] On 16 August, 17 Nigerien soldiers were also killed by suspected jihadists near the town of Koutougou.[5]

Attack

The attack took place while soldiers were returning from operations aimed at "neutralizing" the threat posed by the Islamic State – Sahil Province (ISGS).[6] Nigerien soldiers had been dispatched to the location of an outpost near Takanamat, where ISGS had ambushed earlier.[7] The reinforcements were attacked by over 100 armed insurgents in vehicles using homemade explosive devices.[8] An initial toll stated 29 Nigerien soldiers were killed, and two were severely wounded.[9] [10] "Several dozen" militants were also killed, but no official number was disclosed, and there was no information on who was responsible for the attack. Niger's defense minister claimed that 15 motorcycles owned by the militants were also destroyed, and a large quantity of weapons and ammunition were seized.

Officials and civilian sources later reported the death toll as up to sixty soldiers killed, although the Nigerien junta maintained that 29 soldiers were killed and two were wounded.[11] [12] The Tabatol attack was the deadliest attack on Nigerien troops since the coup d'etat.

Reactions

Niger's government issued three days of national mourning.[13]

International

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the country "expressed deep sorrow and sympathy to the families of the victims and the government and people of Niger."[14]

The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned the attack in the strongest terms, and extended its condolences to the families of those killed and to all the people of Niger during the period of mourning. They described the attack as "heinous" and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. The OIC General Secretariat also reiterated the organization's position against terrorism, and renewed its support to Niger and other Sahel countries.[15]

Algeria condemned the terrorist attack "in the strongest terms", the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.[16]

Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the State of Qatar strongly condemned the attack, and reaffirmed its stance against terrorism and other acts of violence.[17]

Egypt condemned the attack and extended its condolences to Niger. The country stressed its stance against terrorism and called upon the international community to concert efforts to combat it.[18]

Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack in Niger. The ministry's spokesperson, Sufyan al-Qudah, empathized Jordan's stance against all forms of violence and terrorism, and expressed his condolences and sympathy to the government and people of Niger, and to the families of the victims. He also wished a swift recovery for the injured.[19]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: IS' an-Naba 413 Reveals Previously Undocumented Sahel Ops, Celebrates "Atmosphere of Terror" in Europe Following Brussels Attack . SITE . en.
  2. News: Nouvelle attaque jihadiste au Niger avant la médiation algérienne . 26 October 2024 . VOA Afrique (Voice of America - Africa) . AFP . 3 October 2023 . fr.
  3. Web site: Niger: 29 soldiers killed in deadliest attack since coup . 2024-02-08 . DW . en . 4 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231004000132/https://www.dw.com/en/niger-29-soldiers-killed-in-deadliest-attack-since-coup/a-66986680 . live .
  4. Web site: A dozen soldiers killed after rebel attack in southwest Niger . 2023-10-03 . Al Jazeera . en . 4 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231004062919/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/29/a-dozen-soldiers-killed-after-rebel-attack-in-southwest-niger . live .
  5. News: Aksar . Moussa . 2023-08-16 . Niger says 17 of its soldiers killed in ambush near Burkina Faso border . en . Reuters . 2023-10-03 . 4 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231004000132/https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/niger-says-17-its-soldiers-killed-ambush-near-burkina-faso-border-2023-08-16/ . live .
  6. Web site: Niger declares mourning after dozens of soldiers killed in attack near Mali . 2023-10-03 . Al Jazeera . 4 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231004000132/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/3/niger-declares-mourning-after-dozens-of-soldiers-killed-in-attack-near-mali . live .
  7. Web site: 2023-10-04 . Niger: au moins 60 soldats morts lors d'attaques à l'Ouest, en pleine hausse de l'insécurité . 2024-09-04 . RFI . fr.
  8. Web site: Niger's junta says jihadis kill 29 soldiers as attacks ramp up . 2023-10-03 . ABC News . 4 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231004000132/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/nigers-junta-jihadis-kill-29-soldiers-attacks-ramp-103680104 . live .
  9. Web site: 2023-10-03 . Niger says 29 soldiers killed in attack near Mali border . 2023-10-03 . The Jerusalem Post . 4 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231004000132/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-761445 . live .
  10. Web site: Niger confirms 29 soldiers killed in terrorist attack near border with Mali . 2023-10-08 . Anadolu Agency . 8 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231008221631/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/niger-confirms-29-soldiers-killed-in-terrorist-attack-near-border-with-mali/3006816 . live .
  11. Web site: 2023-10-03 . Nouvelle attaque jihadiste au Niger avant la médiation algérienne . 2024-09-04 . Voice of America . fr.
  12. Web site: 2023-10-04 . Niger: au moins 60 soldats morts lors d'attaques à l'Ouest, en pleine hausse de l'insécurité . 2024-09-04 . RFI . fr.
  13. Web site: Samuel-Ugwuezi . Ozioma . 2023-10-03 . Niger Begins Three-Day National Mourning After Suspected Jihad Attack Kills 29 Soldiers . 2023-10-03 . Arise News . en-US . 4 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231004000134/https://www.arise.tv/niger-begins-three-day-national-mourning-after-suspected-jihad-attack-kills-29-soldiers/ . live .
  14. Web site: 2023-10-05 . Saudi Arabia condemns terrorist attack that killed 29 soldiers in Tabatol . 2023-10-07 . Saudi Gazette . English . 8 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231008004958/https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/636496 . live .
  15. Web site: 2023-10-04 . OIC Condemns Niger Terrorist Attack . 2023-10-07 . News Ghana . en-US . 8 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231008004956/https://newsghana.com.gh/oic-condemns-niger-terrorist-attack/ . live .
  16. Web site: Algeria condemns terrorist attack on Niger's army in Tabatol . Algérie Presse Service . 7 October 2023 . 8 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231008004955/https://www.aps.dz/en/algeria/48928-algeria-condemns-terrorist-attack-on-niger-s-army-in-tabatol . live .
  17. Web site: Kilani . Hazar . 2023-10-09 . Qatar condemns attack on security forces in Western Niger . 2023-10-15 . Doha News : Qatar . en-US . 14 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231014102123/https://dohanews.co/qatar-condemns-attack-on-security-forces-in-western-niger/ . live .
  18. Web site: 2023-10-04 . Egypt condemns terrorist attack against soldiers in Niger . 2023-10-15 . Egypt Today . 20 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231020171602/https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/127419/Egypt-condemns-terrorist-attack-against-soldiers-in-Niger . live .
  19. Web site: Jordan condemns terrorist attack in Niger . 2023-10-15 . Roya News . en . 20 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231020171601/https://en.royanews.tv/news/44932/2023-10-05 . live .

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