# Islamic State Fighters Overrun the Inates Military Camp (10 December 2019)

URL: https://allhistories.com/niger/timeline/2019-islamic-state-fighters-overrun-the-inates-military-camp
Location: Inates, Tillabéri Region, Niger
Themes: battle

On 10 December 2019 gunmen attacked the army camp at Inates, near the Mali border in Tillabéri Region, killing at least seventy-one Nigerien soldiers in one of the deadliest attacks on the country's forces. Fighters used vehicles, motorcycles and mortars, and the Islamic State later claimed responsibility. President Issoufou cut short a visit to Egypt and declared three days of national mourning. The Inates camp had been an isolated outpost with limited ammunition and reinforcements. After the assault, authorities admitted that the army needed new equipment and a review of its posts. Niger's government started to rebuild its defence budget, and the army began a campaign with partners that culminated in a French-led summit at Pau in January 2020. Sources differ on the final toll, with early reports giving lower figures. At the date of this event the principal authority over the largest part of present-day Niger, by the convention of this dataset, lay with Mahamadou Issoufou, President of the Republic (2011–2021). The government was headed by Prime Minister Brigi Rafini. Inates was a turning point that exposed the weakness of the western front and gave pressure for a larger regional response. It also eroded public trust in the army's leadership and eventually fed into support for military rule. It also became a symbol in the later debate about the state's capacity to protect its soldiers and civilians.

## Why it matters
It exposed the army's weakness on the western front and drove a larger external military effort.

Ruler at the Time: [Mahamadou Issoufou](https://allhistories.com/niger/rulers/mahamadou-issoufou-1993)

Prime Minister: Brigi Rafini

## Sources
- [Islamist insurgency in Niger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamist_insurgency_in_Niger)
- [thedefensepost.com](https://thedefensepost.com/2020/01/10/niger-soldiers-killed-terrorist-attack-chinagodrar-tillaberi/amp/)
- [History of Niger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Niger)