The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has condemned "in the strongest terms" the attack that left nearly 70 people dead in Niger's southern Tillabery region.

"The Chairperson extends his sincere condolences to the bereaved families and reaffirms the African Union's solitary with the government and people of the Republic of Niger during this difficult time," he said in a statement.

"The Chairperson reaffirms that this shocking new attack against civilians is a stark reminder of the urgent need for renewed regional and international support and solidarity with the governments and people of the Sahel Region in their fight against terrorism."

Following that attack, Niger's government on Thursday declared two days of national mourning.

According to Al Jazeera, armed groups have killed more than 530 people in attacks on civilians in the frontier regions of southwest Niger this year, over five times more than in all of 2020.