Relations between the military junta, which seized power in Niger in 2023, and France show no signs of improvement. In a significant development, the junta’s leader has publicly lauded Russia for its military support in repelling an attack on Niamey’s airport. Furthermore, he explicitly accused French President Emmanuel Macron, alongside Bénin’s Patrice Talon and Côte d’Ivoire’s Alassane Ouattara, of being the “sponsors” behind the assailants. During this confrontation, the junta reported that four of its soldiers sustained injuries, while twenty attackers, including “a Frenchman,” were killed, and others apprehended. This is critical Africa breaking news, shedding light on the complex African current affairs.

The incident unfolded during the night from Wednesday to Thursday. General Salifou Modi, Niger’s Defense Minister, confirmed in a statement broadcast on state television Télé Sahel that a “group of remote-controlled mercenaries attacked Air Base 101 in Niamey” for approximately thirty minutes before a “joint air and ground response” was launched.

General Abdourahamane Tiani, the head of the junta, extended his commendations to “all defense and security forces […] as well as our Russian partners who professionally defended their sector.” He then issued a stern warning to the alleged sponsors: “We remind the sponsors of these mercenaries, notably Emmanuel Macron, Patrice Talon, and Alassane Ouattara: we have listened to them bark enough; now it is their turn to listen to us.” Such statements highlight the escalating tensions in African governance and international relations, a key focus for English Africa news outlets like The African Tribune.

state-of-the-art equipment and uranium: a volatile mix

The precise identity of those behind this assault remains unconfirmed. However, Niamey’s airport holds immense strategic importance. It houses a Nigerien air force base, a recently constructed drone base, and serves as the headquarters for the unified force established by Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali to combat jihadist groups plaguing the Sahel region. Crucially, the airport is also a storage site for a substantial cargo of uranium, exceeding 1,000 tons, awaiting export. Niger, a significant uranium producer, is embroiled in a fierce dispute over this very cargo with the French nuclear fuel giant Orano, which accuses the Nigerien state of expropriation. Orano recently reiterated its commitment to pursuing legal action against the Nigerien state and “anyone attempting to seize” this valuable uranium stock, adding another layer to this complex continent news story.

The Nigerien minister further detailed that the “vigorous air and ground response led to the neutralization of 20 mercenaries and the arrest of 11 others, the majority of whom were severely injured, along with the recovery of significant war materials.” Despite the junta’s accusations, many observers consider the hypothesis of a jihadist attack to be the most credible. Niger faces ongoing violence from groups such as the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM, linked to Al Qaeda) and the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS), particularly in its western regions near the capital and in the southeast. However, as of Thursday evening, no jihadist group had claimed responsibility for the attack. This ongoing instability remains a critical point of African current affairs.