Intense gunfire and explosions erupted in the early hours of Thursday near Niamey’s main international airport, as reported by a Reuters journalist.
According to the correspondent, the gunfire—which began roughly an hour earlier—was still ongoing at 00:12 GMT.
A video shared on the social platform X captured the capital’s skyline illuminated by flashes of gunfire. However, Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the footage.
A spokesperson for Niger’s military government, which seized power in 2023 following a coup, could not be reached for immediate comment.
Like its neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger continues to battle an armed insurgency fueled by jihadist groups linked to Al Qaïda and the Islamic State.
