Hundreds of Islamist militants riding motorbikes have attacked a town in south-western Niger, killing 12 soldiers, the defence ministry says.
Seven soldiers were killed in combat, while five others died in a road accident responding to the attack.
The defence minister said over 100 militants had been killed in a counter-offensive.
Jihadist attacks on the army have risen since the military seized power in July.
The army said it had staged the coup so it could better fight the militants, some of which are linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
The junta has ordered French troops stationed in the country to help fight the jihadists to leave – last week, French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to withdraw them.
The French ambassador left Niger earlier this week after living under a blockade ordered by the junta for several weeks in the embassy. Now back in Paris, Sylvain Itté told French TV that the aim was to “break me down”.
Source:Fiilafmonline/BBC
