Gunmen Attack a Major Airport in Niger

Gunmen attacked Niger's main airport in Niamey on Thursday morning, the country's second such assault this year and a sign of the capital's vulnerability to Islamist violence. Residents said gunfire began around 5 or 6 a.m. and lasted about 30 minutes before Nigerien forces sealed off the area. The attackers' identities were not disclosed, but authorities point to jihadist networks active across the Sahel. Analysts cited by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project said the attack was likely carried out by Islamic State in the Greater Sahara or Al Qaeda's local affiliate. No official death toll was confirmed, though figures from different sources ranged from seven to 18 attackers killed, with several police officers killed or wounded.

The episode comes in the wake of Niger's 2023 coup leaders, who installed a military administration under Abdourahamane Tiani and issued a December decree ordering citizens to defend the country. The violence has drawn closer to Niamey after previously striking rural areas, including an earlier January attack on the airport. The International Crisis Group notes the airport houses most of Niger's military aircraft and drones, a strategic asset amid ongoing insurgencies. After the breach, a crowd gathered in support of the government, reflecting resilience even as residents described fear and displacement nearby.