Niger: The state asserts its primacy in security matters and mobilises the nation after the attack in Niamey
In Niger, the attack that occurred on the night of January 28–29 against the Niamey Air Base 101 illustrates, with dramatic sharpness, the persistence of the asymmetric threats facing the country and, more broadly, the Sahel. This assault, carried out by a group of “remotely controlled mercenaries” traveling on motorcycles, was not a mere incident but the manifestation of a destabilizing project conceived beyond national borders, instrumentalizing insecurity to pursue undeclared political objectives.
Behind the violence loom sponsors whose ambition is to weaken a sovereign state, sow doubt about its protective capacities, and undermine national cohesion.
This event therefore demands firmness and vigilance in the face of those forces that, lurking in the shadows, seek to exploit confusion in service of foreign designs.
In this context, the response of the Nigerien Defense and Security Forces, supported by the unified force of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), stands as an example of operational efficiency and strategic discipline.
The swift neutralization of twenty attackers and the arrest of eleven others, while preserving the integrity of national forces, demonstrates a rigorous and perfectly orchestrated doctrine of counter-response.
The coordination of security operations, from the air base to the surrounding districts, made it possible to contain the aggression while limiting collateral damage and protecting the civilian population.
The exemplary action of the Nigerien army and the AES demonstrates the capacity of these three sovereign states to fully assume their sovereignty, promptly deploy their defense resources, and neutralize threats whose origins and ramifications extend beyond strictly military confines.
Beyond tactical performance, this operation carries major political significance. It illustrates the ability of Niger to assert its authority over its territory and affirm its primacy in the regional security landscape.
The firm and measured communication from the Ministry of Defense, together with the on-site intervention of President Abdourahamane Tiani, materialize a verticality of the state capable of reassuring and mobilizing the nation.
The call for citizens to report any suspicious behavior reflects the will to build collective security, founded on shared responsibility and civic vigilance the cornerstone of genuine sovereignty.
It falls to the Nigerien people to redouble their vigilance by reporting any suspicious activity in their surroundings and to support the authorities in this war against the enemies of Niger.
Derman Saliou
