At least 35 people have been killed and scores injured in a coordinated gun attack on Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, the capital of Niger. The assault, which began at approximately 4:30 a.m.
local time, targeted the airport’s main terminal and a nearby military barracks. Armed assailants, suspected to be affiliated with jihadist groups operating in the Sahel, stormed the perimeter after breaching security checkpoints. They then engaged in a sustained firefight with Nigerien security forces.
The military responded with armoured vehicles and helicopter gunships, eventually repelling the attackers. Among the dead are 22 civilians, 10 soldiers, and three attackers. The airport, Niger’s primary aviation hub, has been closed indefinitely.
This attack underscores the deteriorating security situation in the region, where jihadist insurgencies linked to Islamic State and Al-Qaeda continue to exploit weak state institutions. Niger, a key Western ally in the fight against extremism, has seen a surge in violence since a military coup in 2023, which toppled the democratically elected president and strained relations with France and the United States. The junta has since sought closer ties with Russia, but security gains have remained elusive.
The incident also raises questions about the capacity of the Nigerien military to protect critical infrastructure. A state of emergency has been declared in the capital, and all flights in and out of Niamey have been suspended until further notice.
