Islamic State Claims Coordinated Assault on Niger's International Airport
The Islamic State in the Sahel has officially claimed responsibility for a brazen and coordinated attack targeting the international airport and adjacent air force base in Niamey, the capital city of Niger. According to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors global jihadist communications, the assault began shortly after midnight on Thursday, involving motorcycle-riding militants who utilised heavy weaponry and drones in what was described as a "surprise and coordinated" strike.
Details of the Attack and Damage to Aircraft
The attack, which unfolded near the presidential palace and Base Aérienne 101—a military facility previously used by both US and Russian troops—resulted in significant damage to at least three aircraft. Reports confirm that one plane belonging to the Ivorian carrier Air Côte d'Ivoire and two from the Togolese airline Asky were hit during the assault. A source from Asky informed the Guardian that airline staff were safely located in their hotel away from the scene and remain in Niamey, with their passports currently held by authorities.
Regional Jihadist Activity and Recent Escalations
This incident marks a continuation of high-profile attacks by the regional IS affiliate in Niger, which has been linked to the deaths of over 120 people in strikes on the Tillaberi region in September and the abduction of an American pilot in October. The attack in Niamey coincided with a separate jihadist assault in neighbouring Nigeria, where the Islamic State West Africa Province used drones to target the Sabon Gari army base in Borno state, resulting in at least nine soldier fatalities and multiple injuries.
Junta Response and Strained Regional Relations
In response to the attack, Nigerien authorities stated that security forces successfully repelled the militants, killing 20 attackers and arresting 11 others, with a stash of ammunition catching fire during the confrontation. The head of Niger's military junta, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, delivered a defiant message on national television, declaring, "We have heard them bark, they should be ready to hear us roar." This statement is anticipated to further exacerbate tensions with neighbouring countries in the Economic Community of West African States and former ally France, relationships that have deteriorated since the July 2023 coup that ousted democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum.
Political Context and Regional Alliances
Since the coup, Niger has withdrawn from Ecowas and aligned with fellow junta-led states Burkina Faso and Mali to form the Association of Sahel States. This alliance has introduced its own passports and established the Confederal Bank for Investment and Development, viewing some Ecowas neighbours as proxies for France allegedly conspiring to hinder development in the Sahel region amidst ongoing jihadist threats. The junta has previously attributed regional chaos to Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, and France without providing substantiating evidence.
