Niger Declares Three Days of Mourning After Mosque Attack

The government of Niger has announced three days of mourning following a brutal attack on a mosque in Kokorou, which resulted in the deaths of at least 44 people, Al Jazeera reported. The assault occurred during a prayer service in the Fambita quarter, coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan. The interior ministry described the attack as “savage” and reported an additional 13 individuals injured.

Authorities have blamed the Islamic State in the Great Sahara (EIGS), an affiliate of ISIL, for the violence. This incident highlights the increasing instability in West Africa’s Sahel region, where armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL have escalated attacks since the 2012 Tuareg rebellion in Mali.

Since July 2023, over 2,400 people have been killed in Niger due to ongoing violence. The government has vowed to hunt down the attackers and bring them to justice, as the region continues to grapple with security challenges and instability following multiple coups.