The Sahel terror crisis just exploded. A coordinated attack on Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey has left at least 35 dead, including two British nationals. Heavily armed assailants breached security at dawn, targeting a military terminal and a civilian departures lounge.
Government sources confirm a rapid evacuation of British citizens is under way, with two RAF C-130s already on the ground. The Foreign Office is urging all UK nationals to shelter in place. This is a major escalation.
The attack bears all the hallmarks of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), the same group behind the mounting instability in Mali and Burkina Faso. But something is different here. Niger's junta, which seized power in July 2023, has been playing a dangerous game.
After expelling French forces, they turned to Russia's Wagner Group for security. The attack suggests Wagner's presence isn't deterring the jihadists. If anything, it may be provoking them.
The political fallout in London will be immediate. The government has been quietly shifting its Sahel strategy, away from the French-led counter-terrorism mission and towards bilateral deals with regional juntas. That approach is now in tatters.
Expect urgent calls from the Foreign Affairs Select Committee for a full inquiry. The PM will face questions at PMQs tomorrow. His response will be closely watched by the Tory backbenches, where the right flank is already demanding a tougher stance on terrorism.
But here's the real question: what does this mean for the wider region? The Sahel is a powder keg. Niger is the last bastion of relative stability in the central Sahel.
If it falls, the terror threat could spill northwards to Algeria and Libya, and eventually to Europe. The evacuation of British nationals is a stark reminder that this is no longer a far-off conflict. No word yet on whether the government will issue a travel warning or suspend flights.
The Home Office is assessing the immediate threat to the UK. One thing is clear: the Sahel crisis just entered a new, more dangerous phase.
