Heavy Gunfire, Explosions at Niamey Airport

Heavy gunfire and explosions shook the area around Diori Hamani International Airport in Niger’s capital before dawn on Thursday, sending residents into a state of alarm. Authorities later reported that the situation was under control.

Witnesses said the first shots rang out shortly after midnight. Loud blasts and flashes of light were visible around the airport perimeter, about 10 kilometres from the presidential palace. Videos circulating on social media showed bright explosions, towering flames and scorched vehicles.

Residents reported that gunfire continued for roughly two hours before subsiding. Fire truck sirens were also heard as emergency crews moved toward the scene. As of Thursday morning, no official information had been released about the cause of the incident or whether there were injuries or fatalities.

Diori Hamani International Airport doubles as a base for Niger’s air force, raising serious security concerns given the capital’s strategic importance.

Niger has struggled with repeated extremist violence in recent years. The country has been under military rule since 2023, when General Abdourahamane Tiani led a coup that removed the civilian government.

The airport is also the headquarters of a joint military force created by Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali to combat armed groups across the Sahel. Since assuming power, Niger’s ruling military has expelled French and U.S. forces previously deployed to assist in counterinsurgency efforts.

Niger and its junta‑led neighbours later formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which has announced plans to deploy a 5,000‑strong joint force to address regional security challenges.