Niamey airport attack leaves 11 soldiers and 2 civilians dead

The attack, which occurred on Thursday, involved jihadists arriving in taxis with explosive belts, attempting to infiltrate the terminal. Nigerien authorities reported that the army repelled the attack after hours of gunfire, killing 22 assailants. The Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims JNIM, Al-Qaeda's Sahel branch, claimed responsibility.

This incident follows a previous attack in January, claimed by the Islamic State in the Sahel EIS, and a major offensive in Mali in April. Observers suggest these events highlight the fragility of military regimes in the Sahel against jihadist groups. EIS and JNIM are rival jihadist groups active in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, all governed by military regimes.

According to Wassim Nasr, a specialist in jihadist movements, both groups view Niger as a strategic area for expansion and control. Héni Nsaibia, a researcher for Acled, notes that this rivalry leads to an increase in high-intensity attacks against strategic and symbolic targets. The attack underscores the deteriorating security situation in the central Sahel, where jihadist violence has caused thousands of deaths over the past decade.

Attacks, once confined to rural areas, have recently extended to capitals. Franklin Nossiter, an analyst at International Crisis Group, suggests that political dialogue with lo