Niamey, Aug 17 : At least 31 civilians were killed in Niger as a result of armed attacks on Nigerien villages on August 15, the ActuNiger news portal reported on Thursday, citing sources.
All the victims were civilians from the northwestern region of Tillaberi, the report said.
A coup took place in Niger on July 26. President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted and detained by his own guard, led by Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani. Following the coup, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended all financial aid to Niger, froze rebels’ assets and imposed a ban on commercial flights to and from the country. In early August, the ECOWAS leaders agreed during the summit in the Nigerian capital of Abuja to activate a standby force to reinstate Bazoum.