NIAMEY: Suspected Islamist militants have attacked two villages in Niger, killing around 79 people, according to Reuters news agency.

Around 49 were killed and 17 injured in the village of Tchombangou, while another 30 died in Zaroumdareye – both near Niger’s western border with Mali.

There have been several recent violent incidents in Africa’s Sahel region, carried out by militant groups.

France said on Saturday that two of its soldiers were killed in Mali.