The al-Qaeda-linked JNIM group claimed responsibility for a recent attack on Niger's main international airport, signaling an expansion of jihadi operations into urban centers in the Sahel region. This marks a strategic shift, increasing competition between JNIM and the Islamic State group for territory.
The increasing targeting of urban centers by jihadi groups in the Sahel signifies a dangerous escalation and expansion of their operations, posing a greater threat to civilian populations and regional stability.
The main international airport in Niger was targeted by gunfire and explosions, an incident claimed by the al-Qaeda-linked JNIM jihadi group. This attack, which killed 11 soldiers and two civilians, is seen as a sign of armed groups increasingly focusing on urban centers in Africa's Sahel region. It is the second attack on Diori Hamani International Airport this year; an earlier incident was claimed by the Islamic State group’s Sahel Province (ISSP).
Analysts note that both al-Qaeda and Islamic State-backed militants are escalating attacks in the Sahel, a region known for terrorism, as they compete for influence. This shift includes targeting cities and urban areas, moving beyond traditional operations in remote communities. Niger's strategic location, bordering conflict zones like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria, makes it a critical territory for this competition.
Wassim Nasr, a senior research fellow at the Soufan Center, stated that JNIM's efforts in Niger are aimed at marking its territory and sending a message to both the government and the Islamic State group. He added that if JNIM loses ground in Niger to the Islamic State, it could jeopardize its standing in Mali and Burkina Faso, describing the region as an "open space like the Wild West."