A devastating attack in Niger has left the nation in mourning, with 44 lives tragically lost. In response, the government has declared 3 days of national mourning, honouring the victims and standing in solidarity with their families. As the country comes together to grieve and heal, the international community is urged to condemn this senseless violence and support Niger in its pursuit of peace and stability.

Niger’s government declared a three-day mourning period on Friday following the killing of 44 civilians in the country’s southwest by “terrorists” affiliated with the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara group. 

According to a statement from the interior ministry, broadcast on state television, the victims were brutally attacked inside a mosque in the Fonbita quarter of Kokorou, a rural town.

The statement added that 13 others were wounded in the attack.

According to the ministry, the assault took place early in the afternoon, while worshippers were gathered for a prayer service at the mosque.

“The heavily armed terrorists encircled the mosque and carried out the massacre with extreme brutality,” the statement said, noting that the attackers also set fire to a local market and several homes. 

The ministry pledged to track down those responsible and bring them to justice.

The attack took place near the borders of Burkina Faso and Mali, a region long plagued by jihadist groups linked to the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda. 

Niger’s junta-led military regularly engages in battles with these militants, with civilians often caught in the crossfire. 

According to data from ACLED, a non-governmental organization that tracks armed conflict, at least 2,400 people have been killed in Niger since July 2023.