Gunfire and Explosions Rock Niger's Capital
Sustained gunfire and explosions rang out across several areas of Niger's capital, Niamey, early on Saturday, according to witnesses cited by Reuters. The sounds were heard overnight into the early hours of the morning, with one witness describing heavy and persistent gunfire around the presidential palace.
A security source told Reuters that "terrorists" had attacked the city's Diori Hamani International Airport, which also houses a military air base, and attempted to breach the security perimeter around the presidency. A second security source said security forces had launched search operations and that the attackers had been "neutralised," with others fleeing. Gunfire reportedly resumed around the airport at around 0213 GMT, according to one witness.
Bana Wagana Ibrahim, a member of Niger's Bureau of the Consultative Council and a deputy in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) Parliament, said on Facebook that attackers had targeted Base 101, a major military installation in Niamey, but that security forces had regained control. "Another cowardly attack on Base 101 and once again our defence and security forces ensured ... Situation under control," Ibrahim wrote.
Residents told AFP that heavy gunfire and explosions were heard at Base 101. "There is heavy gunfire and explosions at Base 101 in Niamey," one local resident told AFP, a report confirmed by several other witnesses. Social media posts also reported shooting and explosions in the city, particularly in the administrative area where the presidential palace and the national television station are located.
Context of Previous Attacks
The airport and the surrounding area have been targeted twice this year by jihadist groups. In January, the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS) claimed an attack on the airport, which killed at least 44 civilians, according to reports. In late June, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), the Sahel branch of Al-Qaeda, launched another assault. According to the defence ministry, the June attack killed at least 11 soldiers and two civilians, as well as 22 attackers. Both attacks were repelled by the army.
General Abdourahamane Tiani, head of the military regime, spoke in January of "a flaw in the system" that "enabled the attack." The rival groups are not only targeting civilians and the military but are also competing for dominance in the Sahel, and especially in Niger.
Government Response and Investigation
The origin of the latest gunfire remains unknown, and no official communication has yet been issued. Niger's military government was not immediately available for comment. Videos shared online on Saturday showed armored vehicles deployed to reinforce the neighborhood near the airport.
Reuters could not immediately verify the claims made by the security source and Ibrahim.
Background: Military Rule and Regional Ties
Niger has been ruled by the military since a July 2023 coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. The junta, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, has shifted away from Western partners, deepened ties with Russia, and joined Mali and Burkina Faso in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a breakaway from the regional ECOWAS bloc. All three countries continue to battle Islamist insurgencies that have blighted the region for around a decade.