Explosions, Gunfire Rock Niamey Airport

Explosions and gunfire rocked Niamey airport; security forces respond to attack.

Explosions and sustained gunfire were heard early Thursday at the airport and military airbase in Niger’s capital, Niamey, in what a security source described as an apparent attack on the facility.

Witnesses said the first explosions occurred at about 6 a.m. local time (0500 GMT), with sporadic gunfire continuing for nearly two hours afterwards. Security forces reportedly sealed off the area as the incident unfolded.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, and a government spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The incident comes months after an Islamic State affiliate operating in the region claimed responsibility for an attack on the same airport in January. At the time, the group said it had targeted air command headquarters and drone assets, claiming to have “delivered a direct blow” to the Sahel country’s counterinsurgency operations.

Niger, alongside its Sahel neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso, has faced persistent attacks from jihadist groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State. The violence has killed thousands of people and displaced millions across the three countries.

According to witnesses, explosions and gunfire echoed across the area on Thursday morning as security personnel moved to secure the facility.

Following the January attack, Niger’s Defence Ministry said militants arrived on motorcycles but were swiftly repelled by security forces. Four soldiers were wounded during the assault.

The ministry also reported material losses, including a cache of ammunition that caught fire, while several civilian aircraft sustained damage.

Niger’s military ruler, Abdourahamane Tiani, later accused the presidents of France, Benin and Ivory Coast of sponsoring the January attack, although he did not provide evidence to support the allegations. He also vowed retaliation.