Niger’s military is ramping up its efforts to combat ongoing violence by establishing a special force dedicated to safeguarding the country’s critical infrastructure.
Announced by Colonel Mounkaila Sofiani, head of strategic studies within the defence ministry, this new unit aims to “better guarantee the protection of strategic sites and installations” from acts of sabotage, terrorist attacks, and other security threats.
This move comes amidst a heightened security situation in Niger, particularly in the western region bordering Mali and Burkina Faso, where militants affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group are active.
Additionally, the southeastern Diffa region near Nigeria faces threats from Boko Haram and its splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The newly formed force will prioritize securing strategic assets like uranium mines in the north, oil wells in the northeast, and the nearly 2,000-kilometer pipeline transporting oil from Niger’s landlocked fields to Benin’s Atlantic port of Seme.
Key import and export routes will also be included in their protection sphere.
To bolster the ranks of the new force and the overall military, Niger plans to begin a recruitment drive on July 1st, aiming to enlist 10,000 new soldiers. This initiative is part of a larger ambition to double the size of the armed forces to 100,000 troops by 2030.
The government has already implemented measures to achieve this goal, including raising the retirement age for certain soldiers and re-recruiting recently retired servicemen.
This significant military expansion comes under the leadership of Niger’s current military government, which took power in a July 2021 coup, citing a deteriorating security situation as a key justification for their actions.
The creation of the special force and the overall military expansion signal Niger’s firm stance on combating the ongoing violence and protecting its strategic resources.
