HRW: ISIS Attacks in Niger Kill Over 120, Exposing Military’s Failure to Protect Civilians

HRW: ISIS Attacks in Niger Kill Over 120, Exposing Military’s Failure to Protect Civilians
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Human Rights Watch has accused Niger’s ruling military authorities of failing to protect civilians amid a surge in attacks by ISIS-linked militants in the country’s west. In a new report, the rights group said more than 127 people have been killed in five separate assaults since March in the Tillabéri region, near the borders with Burkina Faso and Mali—an area long plagued by extremist violence.

Witnesses identified the attackers as members of ISIS based on their uniforms and prior threats, while local residents said repeated pleas for army protection went unanswered. HRW noted that Niger’s security situation has deteriorated since the 2023 coup that ousted the elected government, which had received support from French and U.S. forces. The organization urged the junta to launch an immediate investigation, describing the attacks as potential war crimes.