Sustained heavy gunfire and loud explosions have been heard in Niger near the international airport outside the capital, Niamey. Multiple eyewitness accounts and videos showed air defense systems apparently engaging unidentified projectiles in the early hours of Thursday.
The situation later calmed down, reports say, with an official reportedly stating that it is now under control without elaboration. It is currently unclear what caused the blasts or if there were any casualties, since there has been no official statement from the military government.
The gunfire and blasts began shortly after midnight, according to residents of a neighborhood near the airport. They reported a return to calm after about two hours. The airport houses an air force base and is located approximately 10km from the presidential palace. Niger's military government has been fighting jihadist groups that have carried out deadly attacks in the region, which shares troubling issues with neighboring countries like Burkina Faso and Mali.
Niger is also a major producer of uranium, and a significant uranium shipment meant for export has been stranded at the airport amid unresolved legal and diplomatic conflicts with France, which has been exacerbated by the military government’s recent nationalization of uranium mines. A Foreign Affairs ministry official stated, The situation is under control. There is no need to worry, while also trying to determine if the gunfire was related to the uranium shipment.
Niger currently operates under the leadership of Abdourahamane Tiani, who took power following a coup in 2023 that ousted the previous elected president.
The situation later calmed down, reports say, with an official reportedly stating that it is now under control without elaboration. It is currently unclear what caused the blasts or if there were any casualties, since there has been no official statement from the military government.
The gunfire and blasts began shortly after midnight, according to residents of a neighborhood near the airport. They reported a return to calm after about two hours. The airport houses an air force base and is located approximately 10km from the presidential palace. Niger's military government has been fighting jihadist groups that have carried out deadly attacks in the region, which shares troubling issues with neighboring countries like Burkina Faso and Mali.
Niger is also a major producer of uranium, and a significant uranium shipment meant for export has been stranded at the airport amid unresolved legal and diplomatic conflicts with France, which has been exacerbated by the military government’s recent nationalization of uranium mines. A Foreign Affairs ministry official stated, The situation is under control. There is no need to worry, while also trying to determine if the gunfire was related to the uranium shipment.
Niger currently operates under the leadership of Abdourahamane Tiani, who took power following a coup in 2023 that ousted the previous elected president.
