Border clashes have erupted after a convoy of cars from Libya attempted to cross into Niger on Wednesday, resulting in 14 deaths, according to media reports.
The Niger army intercepted the convoy as it was attempting to enter Mali, killing 13 members. One Nigerien soldier was also killed in the clash, according to Reuters.
“I understand it was a convoy of pro-Gadhafi Libyans guided by Malian Tuaregs,” an unnamed official told the news agency. Sources told the news agency that another 13 members of the convoy were taken prisoners while some fled the scene.
However, another report from the BBC, citing Defense Minister Mahamadou Karidio, said it is unclear if the convoy belonged to Gadhafi loyalists or al-Qaeda forces.
Niger’s army also recovered several dozen assault rifles and machine guns, three rockets, and more than 11,000 ammunition cartridges.
Serge Hilpron, who heads Niger’s Radio Nomad, said, “Because of the Libyan problem, there are now traffickers heading to Libya to pick up the arms left behind and to bring them here,” according to The Associated Press.
“These same traffickers then sell the arms to” al-Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula, or AQIM, he added.
