The south-western region of Niger has been struck by a wave of terror attacks, forcing hundreds of villagers to flee their homes in mid-July. These violent incidents, unprecedented in the Dosso area near the borders with Nigeria and Bénin, have exacerbated an already fragile security situation.
Escalating violence along vulnerable borders
Since 2025, the Dosso region has become a new hotspot for armed groups linked to Al-Qaïda and the Islamic State, according to conflict data. The recent attacks have displaced families who now seek shelter in nearby regions such as Tahoua, close to Nigeria, and Dogondoutchi, roughly 100 kilometres from Loga.
Television footage shared by national broadcasters shows survivors recounting harrowing escapes, with many arriving in makeshift camps with little more than the clothes on their backs.
Crushing humanitarian toll exposed
Official figures from the United Nations reveal that over 450,000 people were internally displaced across Niger by 2025, with the majority concentrated in three regions ravaged by a decade of terror-driven violence: Tillabéri in the west, Diffa in the south-east, and Tahoua in the centre-east. Tillabéri alone hosts nearly half of these displaced individuals, serving as a stark reminder of the crisis gripping the Sahel.
On July 17, a brutal attack targeted a military outpost in western Niger, leaving 16 soldiers dead and 23 wounded, while eliminating 15 terrorists. This incident underscores the relentless threat posed by ISIS-affiliated groups and the Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), an Al-Qaïda affiliate active in the region.
Unrelenting terror reshapes lives
For over a decade, Niger has been a battleground for deadly clashes involving ISIS in the Sahel and JNIM, leaving communities shattered and forcing mass displacements. The latest attacks in the south-west have only deepened the humanitarian crisis, with displaced families struggling to access basic necessities amid escalating violence.