Attack at Niger’s Niamey Airport
A terrorist group known as Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimmin (JNIM), which is linked to al-Qaeda in West Africa, has taken responsibility for the attack on Niamey airport in Niger. This incident resulted in the deaths of 11 members of the security forces and two civilians.
Niger’s Ministry of Defense reported that 22 attackers were killed during the confrontation, with four additional attackers injured. Security forces successfully confiscated a variety of weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades, AK-47s, hand grenades, and considerable ammunition.
The assault on Diori Hamani International Airport commenced around 6 a.m. local time. According to security sources, the assailants arrived at a checkpoint near the airport by taxi and initiated gunfire against security forces, who responded with significant resistance.
This international airport shares its complex with a military airbase and the headquarters of Russia’s anti-terrorism forces as part of the Sahel G5 alliance. Moreover, Niger uses the airport for uranium transportation, making it an appealing target for such attacks.
Following the attack, security teams conducted sweeps in Niamey to pursue the fleeing assailants, while simultaneously trying to prevent armed locals from joining the search efforts.
A resident of Niamey commented on the chaos, stating that the attackers blended in with the local populace, leading civilians to take up machetes and sticks in self-defense against the unfamiliar faces.
Initially, Niger’s defense ministry suggested that the attackers might have been “mercenaries” employed by France and possibly linked to Niger. This followed a souring relationship after a coup in 2023 that led to the withdrawal of French anti-terror forces by year’s end, leaving the military regime to increasingly rely on Russian mercenaries.
JNIM later issued a statement through its media outlet, the Az Zaraqa Foundation, claiming the attack was a “suicide mission” targeting both the airport and the adjacent military base.
This wasn’t the first attack on the airport; in January, the Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISSP)—an opposing group to al-Qaeda—attempted to destroy a military drone at the site. After that attack, the junta also accused France of involvement.
Counterterrorism experts regard this incident as concerning, as it signifies a shift in terrorist activity from small villages and isolated targets to larger operations in urban settings and against military facilities.
Ibrahim Yahaya Ibrahim from the International Crisis Group remarked that JNIM seems to be asserting its presence in Niger, sending a message to both the government and the Islamic State. Meanwhile, Wasim Nasr from the Soufan Center noted that if JNIM falters in Niger, it could jeopardize its standing in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, likening the situation to a “Wild West” where everyone is trying to establish dominance.
