Niamey's Diori Hamani International Airport experienced a devastating terrorist assault on the morning of Thursday, June 18, 2026. The attack, officially attributed to the Groupe de soutien à l’islam et aux musulmans (GSIM), Al-Qaeda's regional affiliate in the Sahel, resulted in a tragic loss of 11 soldiers and two civilians. Additionally, 22 assailants were killed during the confrontation.
In a strong statement, the Confédération des États du Sahel (AES), comprising Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, vehemently denounced this "cowardly and treacherous" aggression that targeted the vicinity of Niamey's Diori Hamani International Airport.
"It is evident that this latest assault, specifically the attempt to seize control of Niamey Airport, aimed to cripple the operational capabilities of the Ni...