Sahel states condemn Niger airport attack, allege foreign state sponsors

Niamey’s Diori Hamani International Airport became the site of a deadly terrorist assault on the morning of Thursday, June 18, 2026. This attack, claimed by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM), recognized as Al-Qaeda’s branch in the Sahel, tragically resulted in the deaths of 11 soldiers and two civilians, alongside 22 assailants, according to official figures.

In a formal statement, the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), which comprises Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, unequivocally denounced this “cowardly and perfidious” act of aggression perpetrated near the international airport in Niamey.

The AES asserted in its communiqué that the primary objective of this latest attack, evident in the attempt to seize control of Niamey Airport, was to cripple the operational capabilities of the Nigerien Armed Forces. Consequently, it aimed to reverse the current trend of territorial gains against armed terrorist groups, who have faced consistent defeats on the battlefield.

According to the regional organization, this violent incident, which claimed the lives of 11 military personnel and two civilians while 22 attackers were neutralized, represents “a fresh manifestation of terrorist violence bolstered by foreign state sponsors.”

This assault occurs mere months after another significant offensive in January 2026, targeting Air Base 101 in Niamey, also situated in close proximity to Diori Hamani International Airport. That prior episode sparked considerable diplomatic tensions, with Nigerien President Abdourahamane Tiani publicly accusing several foreign leaders of involvement in efforts to destabilize the nation. These serious allegations had provoked strong reactions across the international community.

Despite these recurring threats, the Confederation of Sahel States affirmed in its declaration that such attacks will not undermine its unified security strategy. The leaders of the AES warned that “far from eroding the momentum driving our confederal dynamic, these recurrent and orchestrated attacks only serve to strengthen the sacred union of the daughters and sons of the AES around the vision of their Heads of State in their struggle to preserve the territorial integrity of member states, protect populations, and guarantee lasting peace within the Sahel region.”