Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani accused the leaders of France, Benin and Ivory Coast of being in on this. Whether or not they were, someone wealthy and powerful is behind it: “The sophistication and boldness of the airport attack in Niger — including the possible use of drones — suggest that the assailants may have had inside help,” as well as generous financing and possibly training from interests that have made the jihadis more powerful than the national military in Niger and other African states as well.
“Islamic State claims attack on international airport and airbase in Niger,” by Eromo Egbejule, Guardian, January 30, 2026:
Islamic State in the Sahel has claimed responsibility for an audacious assault at the international airport and adjacent air force base in Niamey, the capital of Niger, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks jihadist activity and communications worldwide.
The attack, which began shortly after midnight on Thursday, reportedly involved motorcycle-riding militants who launched a “surprise and coordinated” strike using heavy weaponry and drones, according to statements released via IS in the Sahel’s propaganda arm, Amaq news agency.
The regional IS affiliate has been linked to high-profile attacks in Niger in recent months, killing more than 120 people in strikes targeting the Tillabéri region in September, and abducting an American pilot in October….
“Islamic State claims responsibility for Niger air base attack,” by Mark Banchereau, Associated Press, January 30, 2026:
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The Islamic State extremist group on Friday claimed responsibility for an attack in Niger on an air force base in the capital that wounded four soldiers and damaged an aircraft.
The claim of responsibility was contained in a statement on Amaq News Agency, the group’s propaganda wing, that said it was “a surprise and coordinated attack” that inflicted heavy losses.
State television reported that Niger’s forces responded quickly to the assault early Thursday, killing 20 of the attackers and arresting 11 others.
Niger has struggled to contain deadly jihadi violence that has battered parts of Africa’s Sahel region, where neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali also are run by military juntas.
In 2025, al-Qaida and Islamic State group-backed militants escalated their campaigns in the Sahel, further threatening the stability of the fragile region and of Niger, which was the key security ally of the West in the region until a 2023 military coup….
Niger’s military leader has accused the presidents of France, Benin and Ivory Coast of supporting the armed group behind the attack.
“We remind the sponsors of those mercenaries, who are Emmanuel Macron (president of France), Patrice Talon (president of Benin) and Alassane Ouattara (president of Ivory Coast), we have sufficiently heard them bark, and they should now in turn be prepared to hear us roar,” Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani told state television late Thursday….
The sophistication and boldness of the airport attack in Niger — including the possible use of drones — suggest that the assailants may have had inside help, said Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at Germany’s Konrad Adenauer Foundation….
somehistory says
Well at least they won’t be boarding planes there to take them to other nations where they can claim asylum.
“The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, (Jesus Christ speaking about the devil).”
“You are from your father the devil, and you wish to do the desires of your father (Jesus speaking to people who were seeking to murder Him because He spoke the Truth and they hated Truth).”