Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) militants ambushed a Nigerien army convoy near Gao on January 31, 2026, killing at least 22 soldiers and wounding 15 in one of the deadliest attacks this year.
The assault occurred along the strategic Gao-Ansongo road, with jihadists using RPGs, machine guns, and IEDs to halt vehicles before closing in; Niger's defense ministry confirmed heavy losses but reported 12 attackers also killed.
This marks ISGS's boldest operation since the junta expelled French and US forces in 2023, exploiting porous borders and under-equipped troops amid ongoing Mali border clashes. Niger declared three days of mourning as families gathered at military hospitals in Niamey.
