Niger, a country grappling with significant jihadist violence, experienced a serious attack on the Diori Hamani International Airport on January 29, 2026. The attack involved sustained gunfire and loud explosions, which erupted shortly after midnight and lasted for approximately two hours. Witnesses reported that the gunfire seemed to be directed at military aircraft located on the tarmac. Niger's military government, which came to power following a coup in July 2023, responded swiftly to the incident, claiming to have killed 20 attackers and arrested 11 others. Amid fears from the local population, security forces were deployed heavily around the airport to restore order, and calm was reportedly achieved a few hours later. The military government stated that four soldiers were wounded during the attack. In the aftermath, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the leader of Niger's military government, accused the presidents of France, Benin, and Ivory Coast of being behind the assault, alleging that mercenaries involved were supported by foreign leaders. He described this act as a cowardly attack and vowed retaliation against those he deemed responsible. Tchiani's claims came in a heated context, where Niger has been under intensified attacks by jihadist groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, which have led to a tragic loss of lives and displacement across the Sahel region. Notably, the airport in Niamey is strategically significant, serving as a military hub and housing a large uranium stockpile. Concerns about the attack's connection to a shipment of uranium that was stuck at the airport were also raised, as Niger's military leaders have had ongoing tensions with France regarding their resource management. The situation has intensified following Niger's shift away from Western military partnerships, particularly with France, towards seeking support from Russia to combat insurgencies. This shift represents a broader change in the region, as military juntas in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso lose faith in Western powers to provide the necessary security and stability. As a result, there has been an outpouring of public support for the military government, reflecting local sentiment about sovereignty and self-determination. In the following days, Niger's government and military are expected to respond more vigorously to both the attack and the accusations made by Tchiani, further complicating the already fragile dynamics in the region.