Niger Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani (C) blamed France, Bejin and the Ivory Coast for the Wednesday night attack on Niger’s Diori Hamani International Airport. Photo by Issifou Djibo/EPA
Four Nigerien military personnel were injured and 20 attackers were killed during an attack on the Diori Hamani International Airport near Niger’s capital city, Niamey.
The attack started late Wednesday night and lasted for about 30 minutes, during which loud explosions and sustained gunfire could be heard, the BBC reported.
Niger’s Defense Ministry said 11 were arrested after the attack ended, and a French national was among the 20 attackers who were killed.
The Islamic State group on Friday claimed responsibility for coordinating the attack that it said targeted a military base used by Niger’s army.
The Islamic State’s Amaq information wing said “major damage” was done to the airport but did not cite any casualty figures.
Video footage recorded during the attack and witness statements indicate Niger’s air-defense system engaged incoming projectiles.
The airport resumed its normal operations Thursday, and Nigerien officials credited Russian military personnel with helping to fend off the attackers.
Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani, who seized power in Niger during a July 2023 military coup, appeared on state-run television, blaming the presidents of France, Benin and the Ivory Coast for the attack. Tiani did not cite any evidence to support the allegation, but he said retaliation was forthcoming.
“We have heard them bark,” Tiani said. “They should be ready to hear us roar.”
Niger recently experienced diminished relations with France and neighboring nations, which he accused of being French proxies.
Tiani and Nigerien officials have close ties with Russia, which helped the Nigerien military to thwart a rebellion by militants associated with al-Qaida and ISIS.
Niger maintains close relations with Mali and Burkina Faso, all of which have faced rebellions that have caused thousands of deaths and displaced millions.
The three nations formed the Alliance of Sahel States in response and engaged Russia while ending military ties with France.
