President Issoufou 14 Aug appointed national unity govt, citing need to reinforce political stability and address regional security threats; opponents claimed move intended to neutralise rivals before next presidential election; Moden Lumana party 22 Aug announced withdrawal from ruling coalition. Multinational Joint Task Force, comprising intelligence operatives from Niger and Nigeria, 1 Aug reported Boko Haram training instructor and accomplices arrested in Karanga in East. Police 8 Aug arrested reported member of MUJAO sleeper cell in eastern Niger. Govt renewed commitment to stabilisation of Mali; new contingent of 850 troops left Niamey 4 Aug, to be integrated within UN-led MINUSMA.

AQIM dissident branch “Blood Signatories”, led by Mokhtar Belmokhtar, claimed responsibility for June attack on Niamey prison. Niger and Chad 8 July signed agreements to enhance security service cooperation and border control; U.S. 9 July donated military material including 2 planes to army to help fight Islamist groups in region.

Several prisoners including Nigerian Boko Haram militants and arms dealer 1 June escaped Niamey central jail during gunfight. Gunfire exchanged 11 June at Niamey military training camp, no casualties reported; govt attributed firing to guards’ nervousness. 

At least 26 killed, dozens injured in coordinated suicide attacks on military barracks in Agadez and uranium mine in Arlit 23 May; Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) claimed responsibility, said it is “punishing Niger for deploying troops to Mali”; “Blood Signatories” brigade led by Mokhtar Belmokhtar reportedly supervised operations. French-Nigerien special forces 24 May killed 2 more jihadis holding out at Agadez barracks. President Issoufou 25 May said assailants came from Libya; Libyan authorities vehemently rejected claim. UN OCHA announced 800,000 people will require food aid in coming months.

President Issoufou 3 Feb called on France to widen operations in order to rid Sahel region of terrorists, said Malian rebel MNLA not representative of Tuareg community, should be disarmed. U.S. President Obama 22 Feb announced 100 troops sent to Niger to set up surveillance drone base.

President Issoufou 14 Jan confirmed deployment of 500 soldiers as part of ECOWAS-led force to retake Islamist-held northern Mali; troops expected to be deployed in Gao alongside 2,000-strong contingent pledged by Chad (outside ECOWAS framework). French FM Fabius 3 Jan said hostages abducted by AQIM in 2010 near Arlit still alive. Turkish PM Erdoğan visited 8-10 Jan to strengthen bilateral cooperation, signed several agreements.

Malian colonel Alhaji Ag Gamou narrowly escaped assassination attempt in Niamey 2 Dec. Media early-month reported increasing influx of Nigerians into south fleeing Boko Haram violence in northern Nigeria.

Govt 3 Nov announced liberation of 5 hostages abducted 14 Oct in Dakoro. MUJAO brigade leader Hicham Bilal 7 Nov defected to Niger, said “MUJAO are not Muslims, just drug traffickers”.

Hundreds of protesters 14 Sept demonstrated in Zinder against anti-Islam film, stormed largest Catholic church. AQIM 19 Sept threatened to kill 4 French hostages abducted in 2010 “if France intervenes in Mali”.

EU mission EUCAP Sahel-Niger arrived in Niamey early Aug with aim of assisting fight against terrorism, organised crime networks; EUCAP head Colonel Espinosa said mission could be extended to Mali, Mauritania.