Heavy gunfire and explosions shook Niamey, the capital of Niger, early Thursday near Diori Hamani International Airport, residents told AFP. The violence reportedly lasted for several hours before calm returned.
Videos shared online by locals showed streaks of light across the sky, flames rising several metres, and burnt vehicles scattered around the area. Sirens from fire trucks heading to the airport were audible in the early hours.
The airport, located about 10 kilometres from the presidential palace, also hosts an air force base and serves as the headquarters for a joint force created by Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali to combat jihadist groups in the region. It was unclear what triggered Thursday’s gunfire or whether there were casualties.
Niger, regularly affected by jihadist attacks, has been under military rule since 2023 after Abdourahamane Tiani led a coup that removed the elected government. Since then, the junta has expelled French and US forces from the country. Supporters of the military, including online activist Ibrahim Bana, called on residents to take to the streets to “defend the country.”
The violence comes amid rising regional tensions and ongoing security concerns. In 2025 alone, nearly 2,000 people were killed in Niger due to jihadist attacks, according to the conflict-tracking NGO ACLED. A large uranium shipment, whose buyer remains undisclosed, has also been stuck at the airport since November, highlighting the strategic importance of the site.