Niamey, Niger – Heavy gunfire and powerful explosions rocked the vicinity of Diori Hamani International Airport in Niger’s capital during the early hours of Thursday, with air defense systems reportedly engaging unidentified projectiles. The sustained attack near the strategic aviation hub created panic among residents before subsiding approximately two hours after commencement.
Multiple eyewitness accounts and verified video footage depicted anti-aircraft systems intercepting incoming threats in the night sky, though the origin and nature of the projectiles remain unconfirmed. While official casualty figures and damage assessments are pending, government sources indicate the situation has been stabilized without providing specific details.
The airport complex, located merely 10 kilometers from the presidential palace, houses critical military infrastructure including an air force base. This incident occurs amid heightened tensions surrounding a substantial uranium shipment currently stranded at the facility due to ongoing legal and diplomatic disputes with France.
A Foreign Affairs ministry official, speaking to Anadolu news agency on condition of anonymity, stated: ‘The situation is under control. There is no need to worry,’ while acknowledging investigations are underway to determine potential connections between the attack and the contested uranium cargo.
This security breach unfolds under the military governance of General Abdourahamane Tiani, who assumed power through a 2023 coup that deposed the democratically elected government. Niger continues to confront significant security challenges, including jihadist insurgencies affecting the broader Sahel region alongside neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso.