Gunfire and Explosions Rock Niger's Capital Niamey

In the early hours of Saturday, heavy gunfire and explosions erupted in Niamey, the capital of Niger Republic, with the international airport and security installations near the presidency being targeted. The incident lasted approximately two hours, prompting concerns about a possible jihadist assault or an attempted coup in the country, which has been under military rule since July 2023.

Bana Ibrahim, a member of Niger’s Bureau of the Consultative Council, confirmed the attack via Facebook, stating that security and defense forces had managed to control the situation, although witnesses reported ongoing gunfire afterward. The identities and motives of the attackers remain unknown.

Analysts speculate that jihadist groups or internal military actors could be responsible, with previous attacks in Niamey linked to jihadist violence from groups associated with Islamic State and al-Qaeda. No group claimed responsibility for the attack, and the Nigerien government had not issued further statements regarding the incident.