The Ministry of Defense in Niger announced today, Wednesday, that 17 soldiers were killed and 20 others were injured in an attack near the border with Mali, while Muhammad Amin Zain, the Prime Minister (appointed by the coup leaders), reiterated the governing authorities' openness to dialogue.

The ministry clarified in a statement that "a unit of the Nigerien armed forces, which was moving between Boni and Torodi, fell victim to a terrorist ambush on the outskirts of the town of Kotogu."

The ministry also indicated that the "provisional toll" among the soldiers is 17 dead and 20 injured, six of whom are in serious condition, and that "all of them were evacuated to Niamey."

This development comes at a time when a meeting of the Chiefs of Staff of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is expected to take place tomorrow and the day after in the Ghanaian capital to discuss the situation in Niger.

The Nigerien army also confirmed that it was able to "destroy" more than 100 motorcycles used by the attackers, "which means neutralizing more than 100 terrorists."

This attack is the largest in terms of casualties since the military coup in Niamey on July 26 and the overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum.

The "deterioration of the security situation" in the country was among the reasons presented by the military group led by General Abdrahamane Tiani for seizing power.

The Tillabéri region lies in the border triangle between Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which is critical for the extremist groups operating in the Sahel region of Africa, including ISIS.