SHEHU SANI URGES NIGER JUNTA TO REJOIN ECOWAS AFTER NIAMEY ATTACK

Former Nigerian senator Shehu Sani has called on Niger Republic to return to the Economic Community of West African States following a fresh security attack in the capital, Niamey.

Sani made the appeal on Saturday after gunfire and explosions were reported around several strategic locations in Niamey, including Diori Hamani International Airport and Air Base 101, a major military installation.

In a post on X, the former senator said the attack had exposed the vulnerability of Niger’s military government and warned that continued political instability could worsen the security challenges facing the Sahel region.

Sani also urged Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso to reconsider their withdrawal from ECOWAS and restore closer relations with the regional bloc.

He argued that the three countries should reunite with ECOWAS in the interest of regional peace and security, particularly as they continue to face persistent terrorist threats and political instability.

His comments followed reports that armed attackers targeted the airport and attempted to breach security around the presidential palace. Security sources said some of the attackers were neutralised, while others fled as security forces launched operations to locate them.

A member of Niger’s Consultative Council, Bana Wagana Ibrahim, said security forces had regained control of Base 101 following the attack.

The Nigerien military government subsequently appealed to residents to remain calm and warned against spreading unverified information. At the time of the report, there was no confirmed official casualty figure or verified claim of responsibility for the attack.

The latest violence adds to the security difficulties confronting Niger since the military seized power in a 2023 coup. The country has continued to battle jihadist groups operating across the wider Sahel region.

The airport area has also experienced previous attacks this year. An assault in January was attributed to Islamic State-linked militants, while another attack in June was claimed by the al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin.

Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso formally withdrew from ECOWAS in January 2025 and subsequently strengthened their cooperation through the Alliance of Sahel States, particularly in defence and regional security.

The three military-led countries have also reduced their dependence on traditional Western security partners and developed closer ties with Russia.

Sani's latest intervention reflects concerns that the continued isolation of the Sahel countries from ECOWAS could make regional security cooperation more difficult at a time when terrorist groups remain active across national borders.

He also referenced West Africa's history of military coups and counter-coups, warning that governments established through military takeovers can remain vulnerable to further political instability.

The call for Niger to return to ECOWAS comes as the country faces renewed security pressure and raises fresh questions about the future of regional cooperation between the Sahel juntas and West Africa's main regional bloc.