JNIM escalates threats against Niamey residents in new video

The security situation continues to draw perilously close to Niger’s capital. In a video recorded in the Zarma language and released on June 26, 2026, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), through its spokesman Abdulmajid al-Ansari, delivered a particularly alarming message to the inhabitants of Niamey.

Within the statement, the group asserted that it does not target civilians. However, it accused a segment of the population of having collaborated with the Defence and Security Forces (FDS) during the attack on Niamey’s airport on June 18, 2026. Based on this accusation, the movement explicitly threatened residents who venture near the capital’s outskirts, while claiming the ability to strike inside Niamey itself. It also announced that the operations already conducted are merely a prelude to actions it described as “far more significant.”

This address marks a troubling evolution in the group’s communication strategy. By equating civilians with presumed military supporters, JNIM cultivates an ambiguity likely to intensify fear among the population. Even when an armed group states it does not target civilians, merely labeling them as potential collaborators significantly raises their exposure to violence and intimidation.

These declarations come amid a surge in attacks across Niger in recent years, despite shifts in security strategy and the strengthening of military partnerships. They also illustrate jihadist groups’ determination to exert psychological pressure on communities by disseminating messages designed to sow fear, erode trust in the authorities, and restrict movement in certain areas.

Beyond their military implications, these threats constitute an instrument of psychological warfare. Their aim is to establish a perpetual climate of insecurity, discourage any cooperation between citizens and security forces, and demonstrate that armed groups seek to extend their influence to the very gates of the capital. In the face of such messaging, the challenge for the authorities remains both security-related and informational: protecting the population while preventing armed group propaganda from amplifying the very fear it seeks to provoke.