Russian Foreign Ministry: Attack on Niamey airport repelled by African Corps and Niger forces
“The recent attack on the Diori-Hamani International Airport in the capital, Niamey, was repelled thanks to the joint efforts of the African Legion of the Russian Ministry of Defense and the Nigerien Armed Forces”, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed Moscow’s condemnation of this attack, adding that Russia will continue to make a constructive contribution to strengthening security in the Sahel region, including the training of local military personnel.
The attack, which took place on the night of January 28-29, left four Nigerien soldiers wounded, as well as material losses, including setting fire to an ammunition depot and damaging three civilian aircraft, according to the Niger Ministry of Defense.
The Niger Ministry of Defense announced that the response of the defense and security forces to the attack resulted in the death of 20 of the attackers, the capture of 11 others, in addition to the seizure of some weapons of war.
The Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack, calling it sudden and coordinated, adding that it caused significant damage to the targets it targeted.
Niger’s transitional president, General Abdourahmane Tiani, accused the presidents of France, Ivory Coast and Benin of sponsoring his perpetrators, and in response, Abidjan handed over a note of protest to its ambassador to Niamey, and the Beninese government denied any involvement in the attack, with its spokesman, Wilfred Hongbdji, calling Tiani’s accusations unfounded.
