Niger's junta is considering introducing compulsory military conscription in efforts to boost troop numbers and strengthen national defense capacity amid a worsening jihadist insurgency, Bloomberg reported on April 22. Speaking on Nigeria's state broadcaster, Interior Minister Maj. Gen. Mohamed Toumba said the government must move toward implementing compulsory military service.

Jihadist groups, particularly Islamic State Sahel Province and Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, have demonstrated growing operational capacity, as evidenced by recent ISSP attacks on Niamey and Tahoua airports, which host key drone infrastructure. Against this backdrop, conscription in Niger remained in place until the 1990s, when it was abolished as part of sweeping political reforms following the 1991 National Conference, which dismantled single-party rule and ushered in multiparty democracy.