Niger junta taxes consumer imports to fund anti-jihadist fight as jihadist attack kills 10 soldiers

Niger junta taxes consumer imports to fund anti-jihadist fight as jihadist attack kills 10 soldiers

Niger's military regime has introduced new taxes on cigarettes, alcohol and other imports to help fund its fight against jihadists on its territory, authorities told AFP on Friday.

The new taxes include a seven-percent levy on cigarettes, 12 percent on beer and other beverages, 10 percent on refrigerators and up to five percent on motor vehicles, according to a list published by the economy ministry.

The Sahel region country suffers regular attacks by fighters linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group in the west, plus Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP) branch in the southeast.

The junta has struggled to curb the violence since taking power under General Abdoura