According to local authorities, Six Niger soldiers and ten "terrorists" were killed in battle on Sunday.

 A statement published by the National Guard High Command on Sunday noted that suspected terrorists on motorcycles ambushed troops in the western town of Sanam.

PHOTO | COURTESY Niger soldiers

Sanam is located in the Tillaberi tri-border area, where Niger meets Mali and Burkina Faso, a region known for jihadist attacks.

According to the military administration that has been in control since the July 26 ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum, five troops were killed in an attack in the same area on August 9.

General Abdourahamane Tiani, the coup leader, has cited the country's "deteriorating security situation" to justify the ouster of Bazoum.

PHOTO | COURTESY General Abdourahamane Tiani

Ousted president President Mohamed Bazoum was seen by his doctors on Saturday as concerns over his health mount.

"He's fine, given the situation," the source added.

The 63-year-old president was removed from power on July 26 by his presidential guard, holding him and his family at his official Niamey residence.

Human Rights Watch reported earlier this week that it had spoken with Bazoum. The treatment of the ousted leader, his wife, and their ailing 20-year-old son was condemned as "inhuman and cruel" by HRW.

PHOTO | COURTESY  President Mohamed Bazoum

"My son is sick, has a serious heart condition, and needs to see a doctor," he was quoted as saying by the organisation. "They've refused to let him get medical treatment."

According to an AFP source close to the trip, the Muslim leaders visited the capital Niamey with the consent of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, the head of the West African regional organization ECOWAS.


PHOTO | COURTESY ECOWAS leaders

ECOWAS has approved the deployment of a "standby force to restore constitutional order" in Niger as soon as possible but has cancelled a crisis conference scheduled for Saturday to discuss the coup that toppled Mohamed Bazoum.