In a region marked by recurring terrorist attacks, the Nigerien head of state went to meet with the defense
forces and the population.
A symbolic first field trip that reflects the priority given to securing this strategic area on the borders of Mali and Burkina Faso.
For his first field trip since taking power, General Abdourahamane Tiani, President of the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP), went to the Tilabéri region on Sunday, one of the most exposed to terrorist attacks in Niger, reports national television Télé Sahel.
This visit to the so-called “three borders” zone comes in particular after the “barbaric” attack on the village of Libiri in December 2024, which caused the death of around twenty people and the destruction of many homes. Faced with this situation, the junta leader announced a dual plan: the reconstruction of the village and the strengthening of the military presence in the area.
“A mission of engineers of about a month was conducted for the work of organising the terrain,” explained General Tiani to the security forces based in Samira, before adding that “the redeployment was essential, since we can rebuild as much as we want, as long as security is not ensured, the same individuals that we destroy will return.”
The Nigerien leader stressed the complexity of the operations in this difficult-to-access area, warning against any haste.
“Nothing immediate can be done safely in this type of terrain. He who devotes security to haste is heading for disaster,” he declared according to Télé Sahel. Insisting that the defense of the territory is a “sovereign responsibility” that Niger must assume alone, General Tiani promised that the command “would not skimp on any means” to allow the defense forces to carry out their missions “in conditions that are bearable by the Nigerien State.”
During the day, the CNSP president also visited the resettled populations in Libiri, providing them with assistance in food and non-food kits. His tour ended with a visit to the Liptako Mining Company factory, where he listened to the workers’ grievances regarding the economic development of the region.
A command post of the 96th inter-arms battalion will soon be installed in defense zone number 9, national television explains.
AC/fss/as/APA