11 soldiers and 2 civilians dead as gunmen attack airport in Niger’s capital

An attack on Thursday on the airport and military airbase in Niger’s capital killed 11 members of the security forces and two civilians, the government said in a statement, without identifying the perpetrators.

The first explosions were heard ‌at around 6am local time, witnesses said, and sporadic gunfire was still audible nearly two hours later at the airport in Niamey, which was targeted by the regional Islamic State affiliate in January.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Thursday’s attack. Government forces repelled the attack and killed 22 assailants, while about 20 people were arrested and assorted weapons seized, according to the statement which was ⁠read out on state television.

The situation appeared mostly calm by midday, with only sporadic gunfire possibly linked to the ‌army’s sweeping operations, a Reuters witness and two residents said, noting that security forces had blocked off the area. “Everything is under control,” the government statement said.

Niger’s civil aviation agency ‌said in a separate statement that normal operations at the airport had resumed.

Niger, like its ⁠Sahel neighbours Mali and ⁠Burkina Faso, has struggled to contain attacks from jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State that have killed thousands and displaced millions ‌across the three countries.

Niger struggling in battle against jihadist groups