An audacious assault by suspected jihadists on Niamey’s international airport has claimed the lives of eleven soldiers and two civilians, officials confirmed Thursday. The brazen strike unfolded just after dawn, with gunfire erupting at a perimeter checkpoint on the sole access road to the airport compound, less than 500 meters from the terminal entrance.

Unprecedented violence at a strategic site

The assault began shortly before 6:00 AM local time (05:00 GMT) and raged for nearly two hours, according to eyewitness accounts. Residents reported heavy exchanges of fire between militants and security forces, followed by a rapid counter-offensive that forced the attackers to retreat. By 10:00 AM, the area had returned to calm, though security operations continued in surrounding neighborhoods as troops conducted extensive sweeps.

Among the assailants, at least twenty-two were killed in the confrontation, while several others were detained. Eyewitnesses, including local taxi drivers, recounted how militants arrived in multiple taxis before clashing with police and military units. The prompt response from security personnel prevented the attackers from breaching the terminal, though not without cost. The ministry confirmed that thirteen fatalities had occurred on the security side, including eleven defense and security personnel and two civilians, alongside four injured officers.

Security measures fail to deter new assault

This latest attack comes just six months after a coordinated strike on the same airport in late January, which had already exposed vulnerabilities in the capital’s defenses. Authorities reported damage to infrastructure during that incident, though no uranium shipment—which had been awaiting export at the time—was reportedly affected. General Abdourahamane Tiani, leader of the military regime that seized power in July 2023, acknowledged that the January assault exploited a critical gap in the security perimeter, describing the militants’ objective as the destruction of national air capabilities.

In response, the regime has since implemented sweeping security upgrades, including the extension of perimeter fencing and the installation of over 350 surveillance cameras inside and outside the airport zone. Despite these measures, the resilience of militant groups continues to threaten key infrastructure across Niger.

The airport, though temporarily closed to incoming flights during the incident, has since resumed operations, though several flights were diverted as a precaution. Authorities maintain that the situation remains under control, with ongoing operations to neutralize any remaining threats.

By Mariama Hamani — Analyst