Niamey, Niger. An attack on Thursday on the airport and military airbase in Niger’s capital killed 11 members of the security forces and two civilians, the government said, without identifying the perpetrators. Government forces said they repelled the attack, killing 22 assailants and arresting about 20 others.
Attack and response
The first explosions were heard at around 6 a.m. local time, according to witnesses, and sporadic gunfire continued for nearly two hours at the airport in Niamey. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
According to a government statement read on state television, assorted weapons were seized during the response. By midday, the situation appeared mostly calm, with only sporadic gunfire possibly linked to army sweeping operations, according to a Reuters witness and two residents, who said security forces had sealed off the area.
The government said, “Everything is under control.”
Airport operations resume
Niger’s civil aviation agency said in a separate statement that normal operations at the airport had resumed.
Broader security context
Niger, like its Sahel neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso, has struggled to contain attacks by jihadist groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State. The violence has killed thousands and displaced millions across the three countries.
In January, the regional Islamic State affiliate targeted the airport in Niamey. In claiming responsibility for that attack, West Africa’s Islamic State affiliate said it had targeted air command headquarters and drone assets and had “delivered a direct blow” to Niger’s counterinsurgency operations.