NIAMEY – Suspected Islamist militants have attacked two villages in Niger, with reports of dozens civilians killed.
Around 49 died and 17 were injured in the village of Tchombangou, while another 30 died in Zaroumdareye – both near Niger’s western border with Mali, Reuters reports.
There have been several recent violent incidents in Africa’s Sahel region, carried out by militant groups.
France said on Saturday that two of its soldiers were killed in Mali.
Hours earlier, a group with links to al-Qaeda said it was behind the killing of three French troops in a separate attack in Mali on Monday.
France has been leading a coalition of West African and European allies against Islamist militants in the Sahel. (BBC)
