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The government condemns attack on Niger air base, reaffirms Sahel security commitment

January 30, 2026

Chad has condemned a deadly attack on a military air base in neighbouring Niger, describing it as ‘a serious act of terrorism’.

In a statement issued on Friday, January 30, 2026, by the Minister of Communication and government spokesperson, Gassim Cherif Mahamat, the Chadian government said it had learned with ‘deep concern’ of the attack on Niger’s Air Base 101 in Niamey.

The assault occurred overnight from January 28 to 29, 2026, and targeted a strategic military installation.

The Chadian government strongly denounced what it called a ‘cowardly and barbaric act’ aimed at undermining regional security.

President Marshal Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno conveyed support to Niger’s President, General Abdourahamane Tiani, and to the Nigerien armed forces.

In its statement, the government reaffirmed its commitment to fighting terrorism in the Sahel.

Officials said extremist violence continues to threaten peace, stability and security across the region, and pledged to pursue cooperation with neighbouring countries to counter armed groups and protect civilians.

Djinodji Solmengar

Djinodji Solmengar

Djinodji Solmengar Rodrigue is a journalist with MRTV English, Chad’s first English-language media outlet, where he led English-language news coverage at its launch. Based in N’Djamena, his reporting explores political, economic, and social developments, with particular attention to everyday realities, informal sectors, and cultural life. His work also extends to football and broader societal issues, approached through field reporting and in-depth storytelling. Beyond reporting, Djinodji regularly conducts interviews focused on education, including the teaching of English in Chad, as well as conversations (with AFROTRONIX, to name a few) on culture and music. He is also active as an English–French interpreter, working alongside international media professionals. In this capacity, he recently supported and interpreted for a delegation of foreign journalists, including BBC representatives, during the PND Chad Connexion 2030 mission. Alongside his professional practice, Djinodji is pursuing a PhD, with research centered on the presence of China and Russia in Africa as portrayed in selected Commonwealth online media. His academic interests lie at the intersection of media, geopolitics, and discourse analysis. Earlier in his career, he taught English and authored a Master’s thesis examining the contextualization of English language teaching in Chad, reflecting a sustained engagement with educational challenges and policy.

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