Former jihadist fighters join Niger army | International

NIAMEY, Niger, Oct 14, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Ex-jihadists who "repented" have successfully been integrated into the Nigerien army after several months of training, military authorities said Monday. Niger's junta, which came to power two years ago in a coup, has struggled to contain jihadist violence. The country faces deadly attacks from Boko Haram in the Lake Chad basin and from groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in the western Tillaberi region. In the north, where Niger's military is battling armed groups close to the ousted regime, dozens of fighters have surrendered to authorities. On Monday, 369 jihadists and "repentant" armed movement fighters completed several months of training near the capital Niamey, according to state television RTN. They include...