Nigerien authorities have announced the formation of a new paramilitary force called the “Shield of the Nation” aimed at combating the increasing activity of armed groups since last year’s military coup.
The official announcement was made during a solemn ceremony in the capital Niamey, attended by Interior Minister General Mohamed Toumba and several senior security and military officials.
The militia is led by the “Sacred Union for the Preservation of the Sovereignty and Dignity of the People,” a military body closely linked to the official armed forces.
This force will recruit and train young volunteers to participate in security operations alongside the regular army.
The move comes amid deteriorating security conditions in the country, especially after the deadly attack in June in the tri-border area with Mali and Burkina Faso, which left 71 civilians dead and raised fears of escalating violence in the region.
