Two attacks on "defenseless civilian populations" along Niger's border with Burkina Faso left some 40 dead between Dec. 12 and 14, authorities said. Niamey's defense ministry said 21 were killed in Libiri village and 18 in Kokorou, both in Tillabéri region. The statement blamed "criminals," but the borderlands are a stronghold of jihadist insurgents. An even worse attack was reported days earlier, but is being denied by Niger's ruling junta. Authorities suspended the operations of the BBC in Niger after it reported that jihadists had killed 90 soldiers and upwards of 40 civilians at Chatoumane, also in Tillabéri. According to the monitor Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), at least 1,500 soldiers and civilians have been killed in jihadist attacks in Niger in the past year—more than double the 650 killed from July 2022 to July 2023. (AFP, France24, RFI, BBC News, TRT World)

Human Rights Watch meanwhile released a report detailing serious human rights abuses committed by Mali's armed forces in collaboration with Russian mercenaries of the Africa Corps (formerly the Wagner Group) following the withdrawal of a United Nations peacekeeping mission late last year.

The report indicates that since May 2024, Malian military and Russian mercenary forces have intentionally or recklessly killed at least 32 civilians and have burned over 100 homes in various towns and villages across central and northern Mali. Among the casualties were seven civilians, including five children, killed in a drone strike on Tinzaouaten, Kidal region. HRW further accused the Malian military and mercenaries of abductions and widespread destruction of property. (Jurist)