Thirty-Five Killed As Gunmen Attack Niger’s Main Airport

At least 35 people have been killed after armed gunmen launched an attack on Niger’s largest airport in the capital Niamey on Thursday, officials have confirmed.

The violence erupted at Diori Hamani International Airport shortly after residents had completed morning prayers, with witnesses reporting explosions and heavy gunfire near the facility, which also serves as a military base.

According to Niger’s defence ministry, the death toll includes 22 attackers, 11 soldiers, and two civilians. Authorities also said four of the attackers were wounded, while 20 suspects have been arrested following a subsequent manhunt.

On Thursday evening, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-linked group, claimed responsibility for the assault. The airport had previously been targeted in January in an attack attributed to an Islamic State-linked organisation.

Security forces regained control of the area by mid-morning and launched operations to track down any remaining suspects. Officials reported the seizure of a large weapons cache, including RPG-7 launchers, AK-47 rifles, explosives, grenades, communications equipment, and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

Residents living near the airport described scenes of panic and confusion. One witness told the BBC that the explosions were initially mistaken for unrelated sounds before it became clear an attack was underway. Another resident said some civilians attempted to join the response, armed with machetes and sticks, after attackers reportedly blended into the local population.

Authorities later restricted access to the airport area, stopping and searching vehicles as security operations continued.

The defence ministry blamed “armed mercenaries” allegedly backed by France, although no evidence was provided to support the claim. France has not responded.

Relations between Niger’s military government and France have deteriorated since the 2023 coup, with French troops expelled and replaced in part by Russian military contractors. The junta has repeatedly accused Western and regional actors of destabilisation efforts.

The African Union condemned the attack, praising Nigerien forces for repelling the assault and securing the airport.

Diori Hamani International Airport is one of the country’s most sensitive security sites, combining civilian aviation with military infrastructure and facilities linked to the Alliance of Sahel States, which includes Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso—all governed by military juntas.

In January, a similar attack on the airport injured four soldiers and left 20 attackers dead, according to officials. The government later claimed foreign assistance helped prevent further damage, while also making unverified accusations against several foreign governments.

In recent weeks, authorities have demolished nearby neighbourhoods and expanded security measures around the airport, including extending perimeter fencing and installing hundreds of surveillance cameras amid ongoing concerns about militant activity.