NIAMEY: 29 Niger soldiers have been killed in clashes with suspected jihadists. According to reports, two soldiers were seriously injured and several terrorists were killed in the encounter in the border areas last day.

Following the deaths, the Ministry of Defense has called for three days of national mourning. The army tried to stop the threat posed by the Islamic State in the border areas near Mali. There were jihadist attacks in northern Mali in 2012 and in Niger and Burkina Faso in 2015. The three border areas between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso are a regular attack ground for terrorists. Current reports are that they are related to the Islamic State and Al Qaeda.

Last August, 17 Niger soldiers were killed in clashes with suspected jihadists along the border between Niger and Burkina Faso. 20 people were injured.