The Confederation of Sahel States has voiced strong solidarity with Niger following last Thursday’s terrorist attack on Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, which left 11 soldiers and two civilians dead.
In a statement broadcast on Nigerien television over the weekend, the regional bloc—comprising Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger—commended the Nigerien armed forces for their swift and coordinated response, stating that the attackers were “neutralized” during the assault.
The group indicated that the attack was intended to undermine Niger’s military operational capacity and reverse recent setbacks suffered by armed terrorist organizations on the battlefield.
However, it said Niger’s forces rapidly repelled the assault, describing the outcome as another setback for militant groups, attributed to the army’s vigilance, responsiveness and operational discipline.
The Confederation further stressed that such “orchestrated” attacks would not weaken member states, but instead strengthen regional unity around shared objectives of territorial defence, civilian protection, and long-term peace and stability across the Sahel.
An armed group affiliated with al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attack, in which 22 attackers were also reported killed.