Niger’s military ruler, General Abdourahamane Tiani, accused France, Benin, and Ivory Coast of sponsoring an attack on a military base at Niamey’s airport, while thanking Russian troops for their support in repelling it. The attack, which lasted about 30 minutes, resulted in injuries to four military personnel and the deaths of 20 attackers. Tiani’s comments reflect deteriorating relations with France and indicate Niger’s growing ties with Russia. Since taking power in a 2023 coup, Tiani has struggled to address a rebellion linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL, affecting the region significantly.
