Two forestry workers were killed and two soldiers were reported missing after an attack early Friday in southwestern Niger, the first in the region in almost a year, sources said.  “Assailants targeted a position of the Nigerien armed forces and the water and forestry services early this morning in Tapoa,” 150 kilometres (95 miles) south of the capital Niamey, a local official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.   “Two forestry workers died, three soldiers were wounded and two others are listed missing,” the source said.

Another local official said the assailants, whose number was unknown, torched two vehicles and drove off with another.   A Nigerien security source said troops had launched a search, and “partners” — a reference to the French anti-jihadist force in the Sahel — were being asked for help.

Niger, along with Mali and Burkina Faso, is struggling with a jihadist insurgency that began in northern Mali in 2012 and then spread south and east.   Thousands of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands have fled their homes. Tapoa is located in a region that has experienced 11 months of relative calm — the last major attack was in January this year, when 89 soldiers were killed at Chinegodar.   The new assault comes ahead of nationwide municipal and regional elections on December 13, followed by presidential elections on December 27.  The defence ministry last week unveiled plans to increase Niger’s armed forces from 25,000 to “at least 50,000” over the next five years.