Massacre at Niger Mosque Sparks Global Condemnation and Urgent Calls for Civilian Protection

The massacre occurred during the final ten days of Ramadan, a period considered especially sacred by Muslims.

A brutal attack on a mosque in western Niger has left the international community reeling in shock, with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk issuing a strong condemnation and urging immediate action to address the deepening security and human rights crisis in the Sahel region.

On 21 March, gunmen from the extremist group Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) launched a deadly assault on Fambita Mosque in Kokorou village, located in Niger’s violence-plagued Tillaberi region. The attackers reportedly surrounded the mosque during Friday evening prayers, opened fire indiscriminately on the worshippers, and later set nearby homes and a local market ablaze. At least 44 people were killed, with dozens more injured, making it one of the deadliest targeted assaults on civilians in recent months.

The massacre occurred during the final ten days of Ramadan, a period considered especially sacred by Muslims. This timing, according to Türk, underscores the attackers' intent to inflict maximum terror and harm on a religious community during one of its holiest moments.

“The egregious attack on the Fambita Mosque – during Friday prayers in the last 10 days of Ramadan – was clearly intended to cause as many civilian casualties as possible, in stark violation of international human rights law and humanitarian law,” said Türk in a statement from Geneva.

The High Commissioner urged the Nigerien authorities to launch a thorough, impartial investigation in line with international standards and to ensure that those responsible are held to account. He emphasized that justice is essential not only for the victims and their families but also to prevent a dangerous precedent of impunity.

The Tillaberi region, bordering Mali and Burkina Faso, has become a flashpoint for extremist violence over the past several years. Armed groups, including ISGS and affiliates of Al-Qaeda, have escalated attacks against civilians, local leaders, and security forces alike. Tens of thousands have been displaced, while hundreds of villages have faced chronic insecurity and dwindling humanitarian access.

“This calculated assault should serve as a wake-up call,” Türk warned. “The seriousness of the situation, and the widening risks faced by civilians in Niger, cannot be overstated.”

Türk also called on the international community to intensify support for Niger’s efforts to bolster civilian protection and to assist in addressing the underlying causes of violence in the Sahel. He stressed that any approach must center on human rights, the rule of law, and the active participation of affected communities.

“I call on the Nigerien authorities to take concrete and meaningful steps—with the assistance of the international community—to improve security for civilians and to prevent a repetition of such atrocities,” he added.

Human rights observers warn that Niger’s already precarious situation could further unravel without robust international engagement, particularly in light of regional political instability and diminishing foreign troop presence in the Sahel.

The UN Human Rights Office continues to monitor the crisis and has reiterated its offer of support to local authorities in promoting justice, accountability, and sustainable peace.

As families in Kokorou mourn their dead, the call for justice and protection grows louder. For many, the attack on Fambita Mosque is not just an isolated tragedy—it is a harrowing symbol of the broader collapse in security and the urgent need for global solidarity with Niger’s vulnerable communities.