At least 35 people were killed after heavily armed attackers launched a coordinated assault on Niger’s main international airport and an adjoining military facility in the capital, Niamey, marking the second major attack on the strategic complex in less than five months.
According to Niger’s Ministry of Defence, the casualties included 11 soldiers, two civilians and 22 attackers who were killed during fierce exchanges with security forces. Four other people were injured, while about 20 suspects were arrested in the aftermath of the attack.
The assault targeted the Diori Hamani International Airport complex, which also houses a military airbase and serves as one of the country’s most important security installations. Witnesses reported hearing explosions and sustained gunfire shortly after dawn as security personnel engaged the attackers.
Authorities said the assailants encountered strong resistance after arriving near a security checkpoint close to the airport. The ensuing battle lasted several hours before security forces regained full control of the area.
Despite the violence, the government confirmed that the airport remained operational and open to air traffic after security assessments concluded that the facilities had been secured. Defence officials added that a large-scale military operation was launched to track down any remaining suspects linked to the attack.
An al-Qaeda-affiliated group, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), later claimed responsibility, stating that it carried out a suicide-style operation against both the airport and the neighbouring military base.
The latest attack highlights the persistent security challenges facing Niger and its Sahel neighbours, Mali and Burkina Faso, where armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State continue to wage deadly insurgencies despite intensified military operations.
The airport complex has become an increasingly sensitive target due to its strategic significance. In addition to serving as Niger’s primary international gateway, it hosts military assets, regional security operations and foreign military personnel supporting counterinsurgency efforts. The facility was also targeted in January when another extremist group linked to the Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack that left 20 militants dead and several soldiers wounded.
In recent weeks, Nigerien authorities have intensified security measures around the airport, including the demolition of informal settlements near the perimeter, expansion of security fencing and the installation of hundreds of surveillance cameras to reduce vulnerabilities to future attacks.
The renewed violence underscores the continuing threat posed by extremist groups across the Sahel, where years of conflict have claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions despite repeated military interventions and regional security initiatives.
