Space Travel News
AFRICA NEWS
Niger to set up protection force for 'strategic' sites
Niger to set up protection force for 'strategic' sites
by AFP Staff Writers
Niamey, Niger (AFP) June 5, 2024

Niger's army says it is creating a special force to protect "strategic" sites, including uranium mines and oil wells, from "terrorist" attacks in the country plagued by jihadist violence since 2015.

The new force aims to "better guarantee the protection of strategic sites and installations", Colonel Mounkaila Sofiani, head of strategic studies within the defence ministry, announced on television late on Tuesday.

"It's about preventing acts of sabotage, terrorist attacks and all other security threats on sites of strategic interest," he said, adding it was a response "to the pressing security needs".

The sites will include uranium mines in the north, oil wells in the north east and in particular a nearly 2,000-kilometre (1,200-mile) pipeline that runs from landlocked Niger's oilfields to Benin's Seme port on the Atlantic coast.

Key routes for the import and export of goods such as the road linking Lome to Niamey via Ougadougou also feature on the list, Sofiani said.

A recruitment drive will begin on July 1 to take on 10,000 soldiers and provide for the new force. By 2030, the armed forces aim to number 100,000 troops, the colonel said.

Niger already announced plans four years ago to double the size of its army to 50,000 troops by 2025.

The retirement age for certain soldiers was also rasied from 47 to 52 and thousands of recently retired servicemen have been re-recruited.

Niger is ruled by military leaders who seized power in a July coup, citing a worsening security situation as justification for the power grab.

It is grappling violence by militants linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group in the west near the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso.

Niamey also faces violence by Boko Haram jihadists and their rivals Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) from the southeastern region of Diffa, near Nigeria.

Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
AFRICA NEWS
Development project risks uprooting Benin fishing communities
Porto-Novo, Benin (AFP) June 5, 2024
Working as a fisherman his whole life on the lagoon near Benin's capital Porto-Novo, Antoine Ababe Houssou always believed he would spend the rest of his days on the water banks where he made his home and his living. Now the 62-year-old retiree fears he will face upheaval from a development project his fishing community expects to push them off the land. "I have nowhere to go if they take me out of here," Houssou said. Part of a larger green tourism development project by local authorities t ... read more

AFRICA NEWS
AFRICA NEWS
New analysis suggests lack of subglacial lake on Mars

NASA explores new Mars Sample Return concepts

Martian Polar Ice Flow Mystery Finally Explained

Mars' subsurface ice could be a key to sustaining future habitats on other planets

AFRICA NEWS
Chang'e-6 highlights China's goal to build international collaboration

Nagoya University Develops Advanced Heat-Switch for Lunar Rovers

Lunar Samples Transferred for Return to Earth

National Flag Unfurled on Moon Made of Basalt Fibers

AFRICA NEWS
Understanding Cyclones on Jupiter Through Oceanography

Unusual Ion May Influence Uranus and Neptune's Magnetic Fields

NASA's Europa Clipper Arrives in Florida for Launch Preparation

New Earth-Based Telescope Images of Jupiter's Moon Io Match Spacecraft Quality

AFRICA NEWS
Giant viruses discovered on Greenland ice sheet

Planet-forming Disks Around Low-mass Stars Show Unique Characteristics

NASA's Webb Telescope Observes Potentially Habitable Exoplanets

Newly Discovered Planet Retains Atmosphere Despite Star's Intense Radiation

AFRICA NEWS
Boeing Starliner spacecraft springs more leaks on way to ISS

Rocket Lab plans 50th Electron mission to deploy five satellites for Kineis

Galactic Energy Launches Third Rocket in 10 Days

Stealth gas contracts awarded amid high profile crewed Starliner mission

AFRICA NEWS
China sees commercial sector as next frontier in US space race

China Open to Space Collaboration with the US

Shenzhou 18 crew conducts first spacewalk

Zebrafish on China's space station reported to be in good condition

AFRICA NEWS
Humanity's climate impact like dinosaur-ending meteor: UN chief

Asteroid Dinkinesh Shows Complex History in Lucy Flyby

ESA Tests Guidance Systems for Hera Asteroid Mission

Asteroid Dinkinesh Has Dual Moons, Researchers Discover

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.