The border area between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso has long been a hideout for jihadists linked to the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda, who have waged a bloody insurgent war against the government.

Niger is one of several countries in Africa's Sahel region where the army has seized power in recent years.

"An attack did take place two days ago (Sunday) against the Eknewan military position," a local source, who requested anonymity, told AFP.

"There were deaths among the defence and security forces," the source added, without giving details.

On Monday, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying in a statement that it had killed about 40 members of the Nigerien forces -- a figure that AFP was unable to verify independently.

Since coming to power in a July 2023 coup, Niger's military rulers have shared little information on jihadist attacks, particularly in the tri-border area with Burkina Faso and Mali.

According to the state-owned daily Le Sahel, the leader of the military junta, General Abdourahamane Tiani, appointed on Monday a new governor for the Tahoua region in which the attack took place.

In recent weeks, the area has hosted military exercises involving the armies of the Alliance of Sahel States -- Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso -- along with those of Chad and Togo, according to state television.

Since coming to power, the junta has moved closer to neighbouring Burkina and Mali, also governed by military leaders.

It expelled French and US soldiers engaged in the fight against jihadism from its soil, while the United States handed over to Niger its drone base in the north of the country in March last year.