Gunfire Erupts in Niamey as Armed Clashes Strike Presidential Palace

Published on 29/08/2026 – 12:55 GMT+2

Gunfire erupted in several districts of Niamey overnight after reports surfaced of an assault on the presidential palace.

The cause of the shooting remained unclear at first.

Bana Wagana Ibrahim, a member of Niger’s Consultative Council, issued a statement on Saturday urging calm and caution against spreading unverified information.

He noted that defence and security forces had been mobilised to protect the homeland.

Ibrahim had previously denounced what he described as another cowardly attack on Base 101 military airbase, adding that the situation was under control.

In a social media post, he wrote that the nation’s defence and security forces had once again risen to the challenge.

According to a security source speaking to AFP, Niger’s presidential guard repelled insurgents from within the armed forces who tried to infiltrate the presidential palace in Niamey on Saturday.

The country’s state television went off air that day, locals told AFP, leaving only a black screen in place of regular programming.

One resident reported hearing heavy gunfire and explosions at Base 101, a claim backed by several other witnesses.

Another local said he heard bursts of gunfire around 7 a.m. local time.

“I went to buy phone credit and saw a military vehicle heading toward the base before it turned back,” he said. “The weapons we hear are not the kind that motorbike‑riding terrorists can carry. The fighting has been non‑stop since last night.”

A military junta has governed Niger for three years but continues to struggle against jihadist violence.

Jihadists have already struck Niamey airport twice this year; the Islamic State in the Sahel attacked in January, followed by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims in June.

Additional sources • AFP

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