Niger's Junta Leader Accuses French Intelligence of Plotting Third Attack on Niamey Airport
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Niger’s transitional leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, has claimed that French intelligence is preparing a third attack targeting the main airport in the capital Niamey. The statement was made after the strategic facility was hit by two waves of attacks earlier this year.
Quoting a Russia Today report on Monday (27/07/2026), the accusation was levelled by Tchiani in an interview on state broadcaster RTN to mark three years since the transitional government came to power, having ousted Paris-backed President Mohamed Bazoum. The French government condemned the July 2023 coup, refused to recognise the new authorities, and demanded Bazoum’s restoration to office.
“The attack on 18 June was not the last, because we have tracked them, given that their objectives have not been achieved. French intelligence is currently working to carry out a third attack,” said Niger’s transitional leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani.
Tchiani accused French intelligence of gathering, training, facilitating and equipping militants from the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) group behind last month’s assault. France, along with two neighbouring countries, Benin and Ivory Coast, firmly denied any involvement in the alleged plot.
In the attack on 18 June, armed militants stormed Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, killing 13 people, including 11 security personnel and two civilians. Authorities neutralised at least 22 attackers at the scene and arrested around 20 suspects, with JNIM subsequently claiming responsibility.
The airport facility plays a vital role as it also houses a military air base and the joint headquarters of forces from Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali. The base was previously attacked in January by an ISIS-linked group, with 20 militants killed and 11 people arrested by local authorities.
“Last month’s operation was in fact designed to strike three main targets simultaneously: the international airport, the presidential palace, and the military officer training centre in Tondibia on the outskirts of Niamey,” Tchiani explained.
“France is trying to portray its military presence as essential to Niger’s security. They want to paint the departure of foreign troops as the main cause of permanent instability in this country,” Tchiani said, linking the attack to the withdrawal of 4,000 foreign soldiers from the Niamey base.
Niger and its neighbours, Mali and Burkina Faso, have battled extremist violence for more than a decade. The three former French colonies eventually formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in 2023 to sever defence ties with Paris, citing alleged aggression and France’s failure to quash the militants.
“The alliance nations strongly condemn the cowardly and perfidious aggression, backed by foreign sponsor states, against the sovereignty of our territory,” read a joint statement from the AES leaders.