Disasters & Incidents
Niger bus crash kills at least 22, ministry says
At least 22 people, 17 of them soldiers, died when two buses crashed head-on in southern Niger, the country's transport ministry said Saturday.
The ministry said the accident happened on Friday night about 50 kilometres from Madaoua. It said another 37 people were injured.
Earlier Saturday, Niger's official ANP news agency said one of the buses had been carrying soldiers and that an investigation had been opened into the cause of the crash.
The accident comes during an official campaign to raise awareness about road safety in Niger. The Nigerien Agency for Road Safety said the country recorded more than 7,000 road accidents in 2025, killing more than 1,200 people and leaving more than 4,400 with serious injuries.
Update
Niger's transport ministry said at least 22 people died, up from the earlier ANP figure of at least 21.
The ministry said 17 of those killed were soldiers.
The ministry described the crash as a head-on collision on Friday night about 50 kilometres from Madaoua.
Source note: AFP news report published on 8 August 2026 at 21:07:22 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The cause of the crash has not been established.
The transport ministry placed the crash about 50 kilometres from Madaoua, while the earlier ANP account put it about 55 kilometres from Madaoua on the road to Maradi.
Source
AFP news report published on .