Niamey airport attack foiled as Niger forces kill 22 gunmen

Dakar,UPDATED: Jun 19, 2026 00:58 IST

Gunmen attacked the main airport in Niger's capital Niamey early Thursday, killing 11 soldiers and two civilians, while 22 attackers were also killed in an exchange of fire, authorities said. Niger's Defence Ministry said the attack was foiled, and that 20 suspects were arrested along with weapons and ammunition.

Witnesses reported gunfire and explosions during the attack, and an Associated Press journalist saw soldiers searching people on the road to the airport afterwards. Hours later, the Civil Aviation Agency said the airport was operating normally.

Niger, which has been led by a military junta since a 2023 coup, has struggled to contain deadly jihadi violence that has hit parts of Africa's Sahel region, including neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, which are also run by military juntas.

This was the second attack on Diori Hamani Airport in Niamey this year. In January, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a similar attack that targeted Niger's drone assets. The airport is a strategic hub that hosts a Nigerien air force base as well as the headquarters of the Niger-Burkina Faso-Mali joint military force.

The military had strengthened security at the airport after the January attack, but the threat has continued. "The symbolism of the airport as headquarters for AES will drive intent by militants to target it," said Beverly Ochieng, a senior security analyst at Control Risks, referring to the regional Alliance of Sahel States. The latest attack left 13 people dead on the government side, with officials saying operations had resumed and arrests had been made.

With PTI Inputs

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