The Confederation of Sahel States, bringing together Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, has strongly condemned the attack on Air Base 101 and the Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, which occurred on the night of January 28–29. In a statement issued over the weekend, the bloc’s acting president, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, described the assault as a deliberate act of destabilization allegedly backed by foreign state sponsors, noting that both military facilities and civilian infrastructure were targeted, putting lives at risk.
The Confederation stressed that the incident was not isolated but part of a broader destabilization strategy sustained by organized financial and logistical networks, while reaffirming the unity of member states and their determination to hold all perpetrators and accomplices accountable in the fight against terrorism.
The AES also expressed full solidarity with Niger and its defense and security forces, insisting that the resolve of the three countries to safeguard their sovereignty and independence remains unshaken. Meanwhile, the attack has fueled diplomatic friction in the region following accusations by Nigerien authorities against Benin and Côte d’Ivoire.
Benin firmly rejected the claims and dismissed them as unfounded, while Côte d’Ivoire summoned the Nigerien ambassador, condemned the remarks as a breach of diplomatic norms, and issued a formal protest. The assault, claimed by the Islamic State group through its Sahel affiliate, comes amid worsening insecurity across the region, underscoring the growing need for coordinated regional action to counter threats and prevent further destabilization.
