Airport Attack Fallout: Niger’s airport in Niamey was hit again on June 18, with Niger’s Defense Ministry saying 11 soldiers and two civilians were killed and 22 attackers died as forces repelled the assault; al-Qaeda-linked JNIM claimed responsibility, while Niger and allies blamed foreign-backed mercenaries. Regional Solidarity: The Confederation of Sahel States (AES) backed Niger, saying the attack would not weaken member unity, and multiple countries (Libya, Qatar, Russia) condemned the attack and pledged support. Diplomacy & Security: Niger and Benin held talks in Cotonou to accelerate normalising relations after Niger closed the border in 2023, with joint expert committees discussing reopening and security, defence, and legal issues. Energy & Investment: Niger State (Nigeria) pushed climate finance and power plans, including IsDB-backed solar financing and a 100MW power project in Diko, while stakeholders adopted a new framework to curb illegal mining and improve security and transparency. Local Governance & Inclusion: Disability-sensitive early warning systems were urged in climate action, with calls for disability-disaggregated data to better protect persons with disabilities during disasters.