The Confederation of Sahel States described an attack targeting Diori Hamani Airport in the city of Niamey, the capital of the Republic of Niger, during the night of the twenty-eighth to the twenty-ninth of January 2026, as “barbaric and cowardly,” noting that the attack also targeted Air Base 101.
The Confederation explained in a statement issued by its president that the attack was planned, coordinated, and indiscriminate, and at the same time targeted strategic and civilian facilities, which posed a serious threat to the lives and property of the civilian population.
The Confederation of Sahel States condemned in the strongest terms these actions, considering that they do not only target a member state, but also affect collective security and regional stability, and threaten the joint efforts made by the peoples of the Sahel for peace and development.
The statement stressed that these attacks cannot be considered isolated acts, but rather fall within a strategy aimed at destabilizing, and are fueled through multiple support networks, including direct and indirect forms of support, especially from foreign parties, which bear full moral, political and criminal responsibilities.
The Confederation warned against any tolerance, support, or employment, in any form, for these criminal activities, stressing that the perpetrators of these acts and all those who provide them with financing, armament, information, or political cover will be held accountable for their actions.
It also affirmed that the member states of the Confederation of Sahel States remain united and vigilant, and are continuing a coordinated, sovereign and decisive struggle against terrorism and all those who stand behind it.
The Confederation expressed its full solidarity with the people of the Republic of Niger, its government, and the defense and security forces, praising their courage and commitment to protecting the population.
The Confederation of Sahel States reaffirmed that these attacks will not undermine the determination of the peoples of the region to defend their sovereignty, protect their citizens, and build a future based on peace, justice, and true independence.
