Sources confirm at least 35 dead and dozens wounded in a coordinated assault on Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, Niger. The attack, which began at dawn local time, involved heavy weapons fire and multiple explosions near the terminal and military section. British intelligence sources tell us the SAS is on standby at an undisclosed location in the Sahel, ready to extract British nationals should the situation deteriorate. The Foreign Office has issued a 'do not travel' warning for Niger and is advising any Britons in the country to shelter in place.
Witnesses describe chaos: gunmen in military-style uniforms stormed the perimeter, targeting security forces and civilian areas. The airport, a key hub for regional aid and military operations, has been shut down. All flights cancelled indefinitely. The attack comes as Niger's junta faces growing instability from jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State. But sources close to the investigation say this was too sophisticated for a local militia. 'Someone paid for this,' a former French intelligence officer told me. 'Follow the money.'
The UK has maintained a small diplomatic presence in Niger despite the coup in July 2023. But tonight, Whitehall is scrambling. An emergency COBRA meeting is expected within hours. The question is: how many British nationals are actually there? The embassy has been operating with skeleton staff. I've seen the internal Foreign Office estimates: perhaps 200 British passport holders, but the real number could be double that given dual nationals and unregistered residents.
This is a developing story. We're getting reports of a second attack on a military base outside the city. The Nigerien army has imposed a curfew. The SAS standby is not an evacuation yet, but it's the first stage. If the airport remains closed, the only way out is overland through Burkina Faso or Benin. Neither is safe. Burkina is a jihadist playground. Benin has its own troubles.
I've been following the Niger crisis since the coup. The junta kicked out French troops, turned to the Wagner Group, then Wagner got bogged down in Ukraine. Now the vacuum is being filled by every armed group with a grudge. The airport attack is a message. Someone wants to show that the junta cannot protect even the capital's airport. And they want the world to see it.
We'll keep updating as more comes in. For now, shelter in place if you're in Niamey. And if you're in Whitehall, pray the SAS doesn't have to move.
