Gunfire and explosions reported in Niger’s capital, local media and witness say

NIAMEY, Niger — Heavy gunfire and explosions were recorded late Friday night and continued into early Saturday, rumbling across Niamey’s edge, especially near the main international airport and within the districts housing the presidential palace.

Sustained firing escalated after midnight at the entry to Diori Hamani International Airport, a site that accommodates a sizable air force base—per a named Associate of Agence France‑Presse who sought anonymity.

This marks the third such disturbance at the airport during the current year.

Local reporters noted that sharp shots reverberated from the Plateau administrative zone, an area that encloses the Presidential Palace and several critical government buildings.

Security units have been deployed around the airport and the Plateau sector, and a major transit road linking the capital is currently closed.

Broadcasting authority RTN interrupted its live broadcast for several intervals on Saturday morning before picking up transmission again.

The interim military junta, officially titled the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland, issued an appeal for cohesive support. It stated: „Our Defense and Security Forces stand ready for homeland protection; stay unified, alert, and supportive,” via a social media post.

A legislator identified as Bana Wagana Ibrahim described the clashes as a „cowardly strike“ and claimed the situation has been quelled.

Jihadi insurgents secured the airport on two prior occasions this year, targeting this pivotal airfield that hosts a Nigerien air wing and controls a joint Niger‑Burkina Faso‑Mali military command.

This incident adds to the strain on Niger’s de facto military regime, which seized power after a 2023 coup and broken ties with longstanding Western allies such as France and the United States.

Military leaders persist in the hard fight against relentless jihadic violence sweeping the Sahel, especially among Niger’s neighbours Burkina Faso and Mali that likewise rely on military rule.

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